01/04/2026
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01/04/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, Apr 1: The Directorate General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has strongly condemned attacks on Kuwait’s airspace and civil aviation infrastructure, following deliberations during its 237th session held on March 31 and April 1, 2026.
The council, comprising 36 member states, reviewed a formal protest submitted by Kuwait regarding what it described as serious violations of its sovereignty and airspace, as well as breaches of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The complaint highlighted direct targeting of civil aviation facilities, including airports, which are protected under international humanitarian law.
According to Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President of Civil Aviation, Kuwait, presented detailed evidence of the damage caused by the attacks and outlined the legal violations committed, while other affected countries also briefed the council on similar incidents.
Following two days of discussions, the ICAO Council adopted a resolution based on a joint submission by Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco, condemning the use of missiles and drones against civilian infrastructure and airspace. The resolution described the actions as a clear violation of international law, including Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, which guarantees the sovereignty of states over their airspace.
The council also denounced the use of drones in a manner that endangered international air routes, forcing several countries to close airspace and divert flights, causing significant disruption to global aviation operations.
In its resolution, the council called for the immediate cessation of such actions and directed that the decision be communicated to relevant United Nations bodies, reaffirming the need to protect civil aviation and uphold international law.
- The Council will keep this sensitive matter under continuous review.
- An official communication will be sent to all member states outlining the Council’s decisions.
- A formal letter will also be addressed to the relevant authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, notifying them of the Council’s decision and urging compliance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Sheikh Hamoud Al-Sabah affirmed that this historic decision sends an unequivocal message: the safety of international civil aviation and the sovereignty of states over their airspace are inviolable. He stressed that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization will not hesitate to utilise all available legal mechanisms to safeguard the global aviation system from reckless military threats.
He further emphasised that the State of Kuwait remains firm in defending its rights at the regional and international levels, underscoring that the country’s sovereignty is a red line that cannot be compromised.
