16/06/2025
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16/06/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, June 16: The General Staff of Kuwait Army on Monday clarified reports circulating on social media about missiles fl ying over the country. In a press statement, the General Staff stressed that these “ballistic missiles were flying at very high altitudes and outside Kuwaiti airspace. They do not pose any threat to Kuwaiti territory.” Meanwhile, the National Guard confirmed on the same day that there is no truth to the reports circulating on social media about its forces carrying out missions in Kuwaiti skies.
The Moral Guidance Directorate at the National Guard clarified in a press release that the forces are carrying out their defense and security duties, in addition to supporting State agencies in cooperation with the ministries of Defense and Interior. It urged everyone to obtain information from official sources only in order to prevent the spread of rumors.
The spokesperson of a state body or institution plays a significant role towards news credibility and transparency, Kuwait’s information minister said on Monday, describing such an official as a shield against fallible information. The role of these official is tantamount to a “national obligation” to convey the messages of state bodies to Kuwaiti nationals, Abulrahman Al-Mutairi told a gathering of official spokespersons, in which he underlined their pivotal responsibilities.
As the public face of a state body, spokespersons communicate messages to the public in an accurate and prompt manner, subsequently stopping the spread of misinformation, added the minister. At a time of increasing volatility around the wider region, the role of a spokesperson has become all the more significant to ensure that they continue to perform their duties more efficiently, he said.
In addition, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) affirmed its full readiness and the availability of its teams and equipment round the clock to deal with any emergency. Director of the Public Relations and Media Department at KFF Brigadier General Mohammad Al-Gharib told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that all the land, naval and airport centers of KFF are ready to deal with emergency situations. He stressed that KFF is always prepared — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — to receive and deal with all reports, whether serious or minor, through the emergency number 112, which receives all calls and ensures rapid response. He disclosed KFF possesses a sophisticated system of modern mechanisms and technologies; including an advanced reconnaissance mechanism capable of detecting hazardous chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials, in addition to the ability to remotely detect gases and radioactive materials. He added the mechanism includes an internal laboratory for analyzing gases and liquids, with the ability to take and analyze samples inside the vehicle; thereby, allowing rapid identification of the type of hazard and efficiently deal with it.
He stated that KFF has “special personal protection suits for field personnel” that enable them to safely handle various types of hazardous materials, as well as a robot for remote detection and reconnaissance in areas that are difficult to access or that may pose a threat to personnel. He confirmed that KFF uses an advanced system to inquire about weather conditions at the scene of an accident, which contributes to enhancing the accuracy of assessments and speeding up decision-making during field operations. He called on everyone to cooperate and report any emergency situation immediately; stressing that KFF pays attention to all reports, regardless of their degree of seriousness.
Also on Monday, Kuwait Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources organized on Monday extraordinary meeting of the agencies concerned with agriculture and food security in GCC countries, to discuss administrative, financial and strategic aspects of the Gulf food security. During the opening speech, the Authority’s Director General Salem Al- Hai said that this extraordinary meeting is being held in light of the accelerating challenges that threaten food and water security globally and in the Gulf region in particular. Al-Hai stressed that the meeting will identify a common path that reflects the collective will to secure the future of GCC citizens, by ensuring food security and achieving sustainable selfsufficiency through strategic visions and implementable projects. He added many topics will be addressed such as strengthening institutional and technical cooperation among member states, exchanging expertise and experiences in agriculture, production and food processing fields, accelerating implementing joint Gulf strategies, studying innovative solutions based on smart agriculture and modern technologies, identifying obstacles that hinder achieving food security, and developing collective mechanisms to address them.
Moreover, Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Totonji confirmed that Kuwaiti citizens in Iran do not face any problem traveling to and from Iran. He said the entry through land ports is available, and that communication with the Kuwaiti and Iraqi foreign ministries is ongoing to coordinate on this matter. In a press conference held Monday morning at the embassy, he stated “we appreciate Kuwait’s positive stances, especially the position of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, and the contacts made by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya to stop the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and condemn the brutal attacks on residential areas, which have led to the martyrdom of dozens of people.”
Regarding Iran’s assessment of the repercussions of this escalation on the security and overall stability of the Gulf region, he pointed out that “Iran did not initiate this conflict. What happened constitutes a blatant violation of international law and an act of aggression carried out by a rogue entity.” He asserted that this time, the Zionist entity committed a grave miscalculation and chose the wrong country. He added “we have always respected the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, particularly the security and sovereignty of our brothers and sisters in the Gulf states. We will continue to implement the policy of good neighborliness and strengthen relations with the countries in this region, including the friendly and sisterly State of Kuwait.
The doctrine of the Islamic Republic is based on respecting the sovereignty of states on one hand; and on the other hand, on strengthening a comprehensive defensive doctrine and protecting national interests through all available means. We will continue to adhere to this firm vision. Anyone who dares to encroach on Iran’s territorial integrity will receive a decisive response that deters them.” He stressed that “90 million Iranians, regardless of their political affiliations, have united today to stand against this criminal war and this child-killing entity. The entire world is watching the scene. Its support for the resistance and Iran’s victory is growing day by day. Iran will not collapse or surrender. If it is – hypothetically — forced into a corner or pushed toward the abyss, it will not be alone. The Iranian people, just as they will always remember the aggressor, will also never forget their friends and supporters.” He said Israel deliberately targeted civilian sites in Tehran and other cities, leading to the martyrdom of a number of civilians, including women and children; in addition to the assassination of military leaders, scientists and academics. He added that the attack targeted nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), posing the threat of a radiological disaster at the regional and international levels.
He stated that the Israeli attacks happened while diplomatic channels were still open, clearly aimed to undermine peace efforts and escalate tension in the region. He considers the incident not only an armed aggression, but a deliberate attempt to drag the region into a comprehensive confrontation. He pointed out that the United States bears responsibility for this aggression, as the main supporter of Israel. He regards the attack as an indirect declaration of war on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He asserted “we did not want this war, but it was imposed on us. We will not expand it unless it is imposed on us.”
On the position of Iran towards its neighbors, Totonji emphasized that Iran remains committed to dialogue and openness; but it will continue to defend its interests and sovereignty with all its might. He called on the international community to condemn the targeting of nuclear facilities and hold Israel accountable for what he described as a “criminal aggression” that crossed all red lines. He stressed that “solidarity with Iran is a moral duty before it is a political one, because it is the only country calling for the liberation of Palestine from the sea to the river.” He explained that America wants to assert its hegemony over the entire region and will not accept the existence of a state outside its control that threatens its ambitions. He added the Zionists do not differentiate between Sunnis and Shiites, or between Arabs and Persians; as they are rather hostile to the rising Islamic nation and all liberated and independent peoples, and that it is not permissible for a free and proud person to stand with Israel.
Elsewhere, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Monday that there is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz following Israeli strikes, although radiation levels outside the complex are presently normal. The radiation poses a significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. The risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the facilities, Grossi said. “The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event,” he said.
Grossi was addressing an urgent session of the IAEA’s board in Vienna that was convened at the request of Russia to discuss Israeli attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities. He said that there apparently was no additional damage at Natanz and the Isfahan nuclear research site since Saturday. He said that the main concern inside the Natanz facility is the chemical toxicity of a gas called uranium hexafluoride, which is the result of fluorine mixed with the uranium during enrichment. It’s extremely volatile, will quickly corrode, can burn the skin and is especially deadly if inhaled, experts say. “Amid theses challenging and complex circumstances, it is crucial that the IAEA receives timely and regular technical information about the facilities and their respective sites,” Grossi said. Without information, the U.N. agency “cannot accurately assess the radiological conditions and potential impacts on the population and the environment and cannot provide the necessary assistance.” Grossi said that U.N. inspectors would remain present in Iran and inspect the nuclear facilities “as soon as safety conditions allow.” He warned that “military escalation threatens lives, increases the chance of a radiological release with serious consequences for people and the environment and delays indispensable work towards a diplomatic solution for the long-term assurance that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Munif Naif and Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies
