Fatal drone strike in Kuwait claims life of Indian worker

KUWAIT CITY, March 30: The Kuwait Ministry of Defense stated on Monday that it tracked and intercepted 13 hostile drones over the past 24 hours, which targeted a power and water desalination plant. During a media briefing, a spokesman of the ministry, Colonel Saud Al-Atwan, said that a worker was killed during the drone attack on the power facility, in addition to serious material damage to the building.

He reassured that the Kuwait Armed Forces were on high alert and performing their duties with complete efficiency and vigilance to guarantee the safety of citizens and residents. The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed the death of an Indian worker, resulting from the heinous Iranian attack on a service building at the power and water desalination plant.

In a press statement, official spokesperson of the ministry, Fatima Hayat, disclosed that the technical and emergency teams immediately dealt with the incident according to the emergency plan to ensure continuous operational efficiency, in coordination with the security and other relevant authorities, to protect the affected sites. She urged everyone to remain calm, avoid spreading rumors, and obtain information only from official sources, emphasizing that the ministry will continue to monitor developments transparently. She stressed that the safety and stability of the electricity and water systems are the top priority, and that all technical teams are working around the clock to prepare for any emergency and ensure the continuity of vital services.

In addition, Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Paramita Tripathi visited the central morgue, where the body of the Indian citizen who lost his life last night during the attack on a power and water desalination plant is being held. In a statement on the X platform, the embassy said the ambassador met with the Director General of the General Department of Criminal Evidence, Brigadier General Abdulrahim Al-Awadhi, to express her appreciation for the support he provided in this matter. The embassy clarified that it is in contact with the family of the deceased and is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities to expedite the transfer of the body to India.

Moreover, Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Monday visited the military personnel injured in a recent hostile drone attack to check on their health and the medical care provided. In a press statement, the Ministry of Defense disclosed that Sheikh Abdullah was briefed by the medical team on the condition of the injured personnel, commending the efforts of healthcare workers in providing the necessary treatment. He wished the wounded speedy recovery, good health and well-being.

In the meantime, Kuwait National Guard (KNG) announced on Monday that it has intercepted and shot down 62 drones and seven hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) since the start of the Iranian aggression. KNG spokesperson Brigadier General Dr. Jadaan Fadhel Jadaan affirmed that the Engineering Battalion, through its Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, handled 51 reports about missile debris, shrapnel and drones in different areas. He said the specialized teams have been operating round the clock to neutralize threats and secure affected sites with high efficiency, while ensuring public safety and protecting lives and properties. He stressed that KNG continues to carry out its duties with high level of readiness, securing 82 vital sites as part of an integrated security system to protect major facilities in the country, in addition to supporting other State institutions whenever necessary.

He reassured citizens and residents that readings in Kuwait’s airspace and territorial waters remain normal, indicating that the Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Center for Chemical Defense and Radiological Monitoring is fully operational round the clock, monitoring any potential risks and issuing early warnings to the relevant authorities. He added KNG also supported the Ministry of Public Works in draining rainwater in several areas, as well as assisting the Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) in firefighting efforts. He reaffirmed that the KNG personnel continues to carry out their duties in coordination with other relevant authorities to maintain national security and stability.

Furthermore, the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of three individuals for using drones without a permit in violation of recent regulations and prior warnings. Spokesperson of the ministry Brigadier Nasser Busalib said the suspects were referred to the competent authorities for legal action. He reiterated the warning against violating official instructions under current conditions, stressing the total ban on drone usage, because it is a threat to security and military operations. He also stated that the explosive ordnance disposal teams handled 606 reports about debris from interception operations since the beginning of the Iranian aggression. He presented a video of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team’s efforts in dealing with debris and unidentified objects outside threat zones. He went on to say that there are only three days left before the deadline for the exceptional grace period to surrender unlicensed firearms, ammunition and explosives, urging the public to comply before the deadline ends on Wednesday. He added the ministry will strictly enforce the law against violators after the April 1 deadline, calling for full compliance with official instructions to ensure public safety and to support security efforts.

In a press statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the meeting, held through video-conference, addressed the repercussions of Iran’s heinous attacks on the countries in the region and their impact on regional and international security and stability. Also on Monday, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned on Monday the Charge d’Affaires of the Iraq Embassy in Kuwait, Zaid Shanshol, and handed him a second official protest note over the continued attacks carried out by Iraqi armed groups targeting Kuwaiti territory. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Aziz Al-Daihani said that the launching of armed attacks against Kuwait from Iraqi territory constitutes an act of aggression against the country, a violation of its sovereignty, and a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter. He reaffirmed Kuwait’s strong rejection of these serious attacks, calling on the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures against those responsible to deter such actions. Al-Daihani stressed Kuwait’s full and inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and to take all necessary and lawful measures to counter threats that endanger its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Social Affairs, under the leadership of Minister of Social, Childhood and Family Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah and Undersecretary Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi, has emerged as a cornerstone of internal preparedness under the current circumstances. The ministry achieved this through intensive field operations in cooperative societies, welfare homes and centers for people with disabilities. These operations prioritize rapid response, close monitoring of strategic reserves in cooperative societies, ensuring the availability of goods, and instructing the cooperatives to prepare shelters for government entities.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the ministry has ensured intensive field presence to efficiently manage the situation. The minister conducted inspection tours in cooperative societies to assess the availability of essential goods, stability of food stocks, and their readiness to meet citizens’ needs without being affected by the recent developments. These tours are in line with the supervisory and regulatory roles of the ministry in maintaining food security and reassuring the public. In addition, the ministry is focusing on the social welfare sector. Both the minister and the undersecretary have been visiting welfare homes to assess their readiness and the implementation of emergency plans. These visits are aimed at ensuring the safety of residents and the continuity of services – the top priorities within a proactive framework designed to ascertain that the most vulnerable groups are not affected by the current situation. The field visits included the participation of elderly and child residents in social events, a humanitarian message that strengthens community bonds. The two officials are committed to be present among them and bring joy to their lives as per the pledge of the State to take care of them and help them fully integrate into society. They also visited the welfare homes for girls and rehabilitation centers, where the minister met with the residents and staff and issued a directive to provide their needs and guarantee comprehensive care covering the social, psychological and educational aspects.

On people with disabilities, the comprehensive plan of the ministry emphasizes developing services for this group, raising the efficiency of facilities and rehabilitation programs, and supporting partnerships with charitable organizations to modernize therapeutic and rehabilitative services. In related news, His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received a telephone call Sunday evening from Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

During the conversation, Sheikh Salman conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He strongly condemned the brutal Iranian aggressions that targeted Kuwaiti territory and injured ten Armed Forces personnel, expressing Bahrain’s full solidarity with Kuwait and support for all measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. Sheikh Salman also wished the injured a speedy recovery and prayed for Kuwait’s continued security and prosperity.

His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled extended the Amir’s greetings to the King of Bahrain and underscored the importance of joint Gulf security and the rejection of any threats against Bahrain amid regional tensions. He described attacks on Gulf nations as aggression against Kuwait itself, and expressed gratitude for Bahrain’s fraternal stance, reflecting the deep-rooted historical ties between both countries and peoples. His Highness wished Sheikh Salman good health and lasting stability and prosperity for Bahrain. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab Parliament, and the Arab League all issued strong condemnations of the Iranian attacks on Kuwait, describing them as flagrant violations of sovereignty and international law.

By Fares Ghaleb and Mohammad Ghanem Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies