Saturday, March 28, 2026
 
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Drones wreak havoc on Kuwait airport radar, target vital ports

FUEL TANK FIRE EXTINGUISHED AFTER 58-HOUR BATTLE

publish time

28/03/2026

publish time

28/03/2026

Kuwait army shared its video of firefighting efforts at Kuwait airport

KUWAIT CITY, March 28: The Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that it detected and dealt with 15 hostile drones over the past 24 hours, some of which targeted the Kuwait International Airport, causing severe damage to the radar system and no human casualties were reported. In a media briefing about the latest developments and operational incidents related to the Iranian aggression on Kuwait, official spokesperson of the ministry Colonel Staff Saud Al-Atwan confirmed that the Kuwait Army firefighting units supported the Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) in extinguishing the fire that broke out in fuel storage tanks at the airport after the attacks. He said the Task Force (Ghaith) carried out several support and assistance missions in response to a number of reports and emergency cases, particularly during the unstable weather conditions that the country experience in the last two days.

He affirmed that the Armed Forces continue to carry out their duties with the highest levels of readiness and vigilance through an integrated system of monitoring, tracking and response to various threats, in full coordination with the military, security and State entities, in a way that guarantees national security and stability while maintaining the safety of citizens and residents. He asserted that members of the Armed Forces stand with firm resolve and high morale, confirming their constant readiness and unwavering commitment to defend their nation and maintain its security and stability.

He concluded by imploring Allah Almighty to grant continuous safety and security for Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Earlier, the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) announced that the airport has been subjected to several drone attacks without any human casualties and that the damage is limited to material losses, albeit the huge impact on the radar system of the airport. Abdullah Al-Rajhi, PACA spokesperson, stated that Iran, its proxies and the armed groups it supports launched drones that attacked the airport.

In a press statement published on the X account of PACA, Al-Rajhi confirmed that the attack severely damaged the radar system of the airport. He said the emergency teams and other concerned authorities immediately dealt with the incident, indicating they took the necessary measures to assess the situation, ensure the safety of operations, and restore operational readiness as quickly as possible. He reaffirmed the full commitment of PACA and its continuous coordination with the relevant authorities to take all the necessary measures to maintain the safety of civil aviation in the State of Kuwait.

Also, the Ministry of Interior affirmed on Saturday that its special forces, in coordination with the air defense units, detected, intercepted and shot down three drones that breached the airspace of the country through precise and specialized operations over the past 24 hours. Speaking in the same media briefing, Director General of the Public Relations and Security Media General Department and official spokesperson of the ministry Brigadier Nasser Bouslaib revealed that the explosives teams handled nine reports about falling debris from interception operations in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of such reports since the onset of the aggression to 588. He presented a video clip highlighting the efforts of the special forces in dealing with drones, as well as the response of explosives teams to incidents of debris or objects falling outside the threat zone.

He also expressed the appreciation of the ministry for the cooperation of the public in taking advantage of the exceptional and final grace period for surrendering unlicensed firearms, ammunition and explosives. He urged those in possession of unlicensed weapons to promptly hand them over before the deadline, which ends on April 1. He concluded by praying to Allah Almighty for the safety of Kuwait, its leadership, citizens and residents, and for the preservation of security and stability in the country.

In addition, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) announced on Saturday that its teams, with the support of the Kuwait Army, Kuwait National Guard (KNG) and the oil sector, have fully extinguished a fire that broke out in the fuel storage tanks at the airport, which lasted for 58 hours following the hostile drone attacks. Director for Public Relations and Media and official spokesperson of KFF Brigadier Mohammad Al-Ghareeb stated that the damage was limited to material losses and no human casualties were reported. He added that since the onset of the aggression, KFF has dealt with 82 unusual incidents, including fires caused by shrapnel or direct attacks, in addition to securing sites throughout the country.

He revealed that in the last 24 hours, the firefighting teams combated fires resulting from drone and missile strikes, and those caused by falling debris following air defense interceptions targeting vital facilities. He urged the citizens and residents to exercise caution, avoid approaching or attempting to deal with fires or suspicious objects resulting from falling debris, as they could pose grave danger to lives, especially if they contain highly flammable or hazardous materials. He also called for immediate reporting of such incidents through the emergency number (112) and to leave handling such incidents to specialized firefighting teams to ensure public safety. He confirmed that all KFF personnel continue to perform their national duty with vigilance and dedication, prioritizing the protection of lives, properties and community safety above all else.

He also prayed to Allah Almighty for the continuous safety of Kuwait and its people under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince. Moreover, the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) said on Friday that Shuwaikh Port came under an overnight hostile drone attack and there were no casualties. In a press statement, KPA disclosed the initial reports showed that the drone attack caused material damage, and that emergency measures were put in place in collaboration with the relevant authorities.

Furthermore, Ministry of Public Works spokesperson Eng. Ahmed Al-Saleh disclosed that hostile drones and cruise missiles attacked the infrastructure of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project at dawn Friday, targeting the facilities currently under construction. In a statement to Kuwait TV, Al- Saleh indicated that preliminary field reports confirm material damage to the infrastructure of the project and no human casualties were reported.

Al-Saleh revealed that specialized technical reports are being finalized, while confirming the immediate activation of emergency procedures tailored to the nature of the development projects of the ministry. He stated that the project is being managed according to certain emergency protocols. He added there is continuous coordination with the relevant authorities at the site to take all the necessary measures within their respective jurisdiction.

On the other hand, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Friday conducted an inspection visit to Kuwait International Airport. His Highness the Prime Minister was accompanied by Director General of PACA Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, KFF Chief Major General Talal Mohammad Al-Roumi, and Director General of Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company (KAFCO) Meshal Abdullah Al-Tunaib During the visit, His Highness the Prime Minister chaired a meeting with officials to review measures taken to douse the fire that broke out following the attack on fuel tanks at the airport, as well as the level of preparedness and coordination among relevant authorities, leading to full containment of the blaze.

He also inspected the site of the attack in the fuel tanks area, reviewing the extent of damage, which was limited to material losses and no human casualties were reported. He was briefed on the safety and security measures implemented during the fire-out operation. He also conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, along with their appreciation for all personnel in various authorities for their valuable efforts and dedication in serving the nation under these exceptional circumstances. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the national personnel and all teams that participated in extinguishing the fire, commending their sincere efforts and sacrifices, which reflect the highest forms of loyalty and devotion to their country and its wise leadership.

Meanwhile, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad, confirmed that reports circulating on some social media platforms about radioactive leaks in Kuwait were false. He emphasized that these reports are completely unfounded and have no basis in official data. Dr Al-Sanad stated that the ministry’s monitoring and surveillance systems operate with high efficiency around the clock within an integrated national system that includes monitoring seawater, freshwater, airborne particles, and radiation levels in multiple monitoring stations. He noted that all readings recorded so far are within normal limits, with no unusual indicators or changes that would warrant concern.

Dr Al-Sanad confirmed the stability of the radiation situation and the safety of environmental indicators according to approved technical standards. He stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it and avoiding rumors, as they can cause unnecessary anxiety. He also urged the public to rely on official sources.

In a related development, as part of his efforts to continuously monitor incidents and their medical repercussions, Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al- Awadhi visited Al-Sabah Hospital to look into the condition of a security officer who was wounded while performing his national duty to protect the homeland. He confirmed that the health of the injured officer is improving significantly. He said the concerned medical team removed the ventilator from the patient, signaling the start of the rehabilitation and recovery phase as per the comprehensive medical plan.

He affirmed the national healthcare system’s high level of readiness and its efficiency in managing various cases, while commending the heroic acts and high level of professionalism of the medical staff in dealing with emergency situations. He also praised the vital national role played by the security officers and their sacrifices in safeguarding the country and maintaining national stability, expressing his sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured officer and his immediate return to normal life.

By Mohammad Ghanem and Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies