Iran accuses Patriot system of causing Kuwait airport strike damage; US pushes back as drone video goes viral

Iran has denied targeting Kuwait International Airport, instead claiming that damage to the facility was caused by a malfunction in the US-made Patriot missile defence system. The allegation came after a deadly missile and drone barrage struck Kuwait, killing at least one person, injuring dozens, and causing major damage to the airport's Terminal 1.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it did not directly strike the airport terminal. According to Iranian state-linked reports, the destruction was the result of a Patriot interceptor malfunctioning after failing to stop incoming Iranian missiles. Tehran has maintained that its operation targeted military objectives and not civilian infrastructure.

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The claim came as Iran faced growing international criticism over its recent attacks on Gulf countries, including Kuwait and Bahrain.

US rejects Iranian side of the story

The United States military swiftly rejected Iran's explanation. In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) accused Tehran of carrying out a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure.

Centcom said Iran struck Kuwait's civilian airport with drones in what it described as a "deliberate, calculated and unjustified attack," directly contradicting claims that a defensive missile malfunction was responsible for the damage.

US officials also stated that several Iranian missiles either broke apart mid-flight or failed to reach their intended targets, while others were intercepted by regional air-defence systems.

Kuwait condemns attack, releases attack video

Kuwaiti officials reported that 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones were launched towards the country during the attack. The government has since expelled two Iranian diplomats and reserved the right to respond.

The incident marks one of the most serious escalations since the fragile US-Iran ceasefire announced in April. The attack came after US forces struck an Iranian-linked tanker and later carried out retaliatory operations against Iranian military sites on Qeshm Island. Iran said its strikes were a response to those actions.