Intercepted Fateh-110 missile debris strikes Ali Al Salem Air Base, reportedly damaging MQ-9 Reaper drones amid heightened regional air defence tensions
News Desk
TEHRAN: An Iranian ballistic missile strike targeting a Kuwaiti air base hosting US forces injured about five Americans and destroyed at least one MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to media reports citing informed sources.
The missile was intercepted by Kuwaiti air defences, but falling debris reportedly struck the US-operated Ali Al Salem Air Base, causing minor injuries and significant damage to American military equipment.
According to Bloomberg, Iran fired a Fateh-110 ballistic missile towards Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Although the missile was intercepted, debris from the projectile fell on the base and damaged the flight line.
The strike reportedly injured around five people, including active-duty US military personnel and contractors. Human injuries were described as minor, but the material damage was substantial.
Reports said the attack severely damaged two US MQ-9 Reaper drones, each valued at around $30 million. One drone was completely destroyed, while another sustained serious damage.
The incident followed a statement by US Central Command on maritime activity in waters near southern Iran earlier the same morning. CENTCOM said Iran had launched a missile strike against Kuwait, describing it as a “gross” and “egregious” violation of the ceasefire. US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment cited in reports.
US officials said their earlier actions near the Strait of Hormuz were defensive in nature. CENTCOM stated that US forces had shot down five Iranian one-way attack drones and struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a sixth drone, describing the operations as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire.”
Iran, however, condemned the Bandar Abbas strike as a ceasefire violation and framed its missile attack on Kuwait as lawful retaliation.
Kuwait strongly condemned the missile and drone attacks, calling them a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and security. In a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Foreign Ministry held Iran fully responsible and said Kuwait reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its territory. Kuwaiti authorities also demanded that Tehran immediately halt what they described as aggressive actions.
