Kuwait Summons Iranian Ambassador Following Intense Attacks Amid Armed Conflict

Kuwait, which has been under intense bombardment as part of Iran's fierce retaliation against U.S. airstrikes, has summoned the Iranian ambassador to the country to lodge a strong protest.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on July 21 (local time) that Deputy Foreign Minister Hamad Sulaiman Al-Mashan had summoned Mohammad Toutounji, the Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait.

Deputy Minister Al-Mashan delivered a letter of protest to Ambassador Toutounji regarding Iran's attack the previous evening on the Kuwaiti oil tanker Kifan, which was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the resulting injuries to multiple crew members.

"The horrific attacks that Iran has been committing against Kuwait since the outbreak of the war last February are intensifying, and the Iranian side is also engaging in provocative and inflammatory rhetoric," Al-Mashan pointed out.

He further condemned the actions, stating, "This is a blatant violation of Kuwait's sovereignty, territory, and the safety of its national interests, as well as a grave threat to the security and freedom of international navigation," adding that it is "a violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions."

The Kuwaiti government urged Iran to immediately cease its illegal military provocations and emphasized that Kuwait has the legitimate right to take necessary measures to protect its national security.

In the recent armed conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has launched counterattacks against not only U.S. military bases in Kuwait but also airports, various oil infrastructure, and power and desalination facilities.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy stated in a release that day, "Amid the ongoing heinous acts of aggression by Iran against Kuwait, several power plants and desalination facilities have been attacked for four consecutive days, resulting in fires at multiple facilities."

According to the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Israel, an estimated 1,318 missiles and drones have been launched by Iran targeting Kuwait between the start of the war on February 28 and July 19.

This marks the second-highest number of attacks in the Gulf region, following the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has faced 2,843 such attacks.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.