Why Kuwait Believes Iran Has Crossed a Dangerous Gulf Red Line
A Kuwaiti perspective on Iran’s missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and their violation of international law.
When I first heard the warning sirens in Kuwait, I froze. For a moment, I did not know what to do.
Should I run for cover or look up at the sky, wondering what might be coming? Life seemed to be defined by the alarms times of tense waiting, then short breaks of relief before the alarm sounded again.
War did not seem like something far away or abstract. It felt close. It sounded like it was happening outside my window.
That moment made me think about something that bothered me: How did the Gulf, one of the most important economic areas in the world, become the front line in a war it did not start?
A Region Under Attack
The answer is becoming clearer as Iran’s missile and drone attacks spread across the region.
Iranian strikes have hit Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Air defense systems have shot down hundreds of missiles and drones, but this puts civilians and important infrastructure in danger.
Iran claims its attacks target only military positions. But people living under the paths of these missiles and drones know the reality is different.
Civilian Areas Are Being Hit
In some parts of the region, strikes have hit or threatened civilian areas homes, apartment buildings and civilian airports essential for daily life.
Families have seen debris fall into their neighborhoods. Flights have been delayed. People have died or been hurt.
No matter what the stated goal is, the truth is clear: these attacks are not limited to military bases. They are reaching the places where everyday life happens.
Violations of International Law
International humanitarian law requires that parties in armed conflict follow the rules of distinction and proportionality.
Military operations must clearly distinguish between military and civilian targets. Attacks that cause harm to civilians are not allowed.
When residential areas, airports and civilian infrastructure are hit or threatened, it becomes difficult to claim that operations are only aimed at military targets.
More broadly, such actions go against the foundations of international law. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter forbids threatening or using force against the political independence or territorial integrity of any state.
The Strait of Hormuz at Risk
Iran’s repeated threats to disrupt navigation in the Strait of Hormuz heighten the danger.
The Strait links the Gulf to the wider global economy and is one of the world’s most strategic maritime passages. It carries roughly a fifth of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Any attempt to obstruct or militarize this passage has consequences far beyond the region.
Under international maritime law, vessels of all states enjoy the right of transit. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to global shipping, even during political tensions.
Global Economic Consequences
The effects of this war go far beyond the Gulf itself. The Gulf is at the heart of the world’s energy system.
Problems there quickly spread to other markets around the world. Oil markets react not only to real supply disruptions but also to the idea of geopolitical risk.
Prices rise quickly when instability threatens a region responsible for a large share of the world’s energy exports.
Escalation threatens commercial aviation corridors, raises maritime insurance costs, disrupts supply chains and adds uncertainty to global markets. Things that happen in the Gulf do not stay there.
A Regional Conflict Turning Global
History shows that wars in the Middle East do not stay contained in one place for long.
Conflicts in the region often develop in ways that even dominant states find challenging to manage. External actors frequently find themselves responding to regional dynamics instead of controlling them.
Iran’s attacks on Gulf states, even after those states have made clear they are not involved in the conflict, could turn a localized dispute into a larger crisis.
Kuwait’s Response: Restraint and Law
For Kuwait, these changes are not theoretical. Iranian missile and drone attacks have hit throughout the country.
Such attacks are a direct violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and could breach the UN Charter.
Yet Kuwait’s response has been based on restraint and the rule of law. The state has made clear that its sovereignty is a red line and that it has the right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Kuwait is asking the international community to uphold the laws that protect sovereign equality and maintain peace and security.
Between the Sirens
Life in Kuwait goes on in the quiet times between sirens. Like many people in the Gulf, I am listening to that silence and hoping it lasts.
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