Kuwait halts flights after Iranian strikes close airspace

Kuwait International Airport temporarily suspended all takeoff and landing operations on Saturday after Iranian missile and drone attacks prompted the closure of Kuwaiti airspace, forcing the country's flag carrier to reschedule most of its commercial flights.

Kuwait Airways announced on Saturday that it had postponed the majority of its flights due to what it described as "Iranian aggression," urging passengers to monitor their flight status closely and noting that automated updates and SMS notifications would be sent to registered phone numbers. The airline posted the announcement on X as sirens sounded across the country.mezha+1

Escalating Strikes on Kuwaiti Infrastructure

The airport shutdown came amid an intensifying wave of Iranian attacks on Kuwait that has targeted military, energy, and civilian infrastructure. On Friday, Iranian strikes hit a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait, damaging one of the country's key sources of drinking water. Kuwaiti authorities said the strikes damaged a large number of power generation units and sparked a fire. A second power and water plant was struck on Saturday, leading to several generation units being deactivated.english.aawsat+2

About 90 percent of Kuwait's drinking water comes from desalination, making the attacks on such facilities a direct threat to civilian life.latimes

Broader US-Iran Conflict

The disruptions in Kuwait stem from the broader U.S.-Iran conflict that has engulfed the Gulf region since early 2026. Iran has repeatedly targeted U.S. military installations in Kuwait, including Ali Al Salem Air Base, as well as bases in Bahrain, in retaliation for American strikes aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping.reuters+1

The latest escalation followed renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian coastal defenses and missile sites, after which Tehran launched coordinated barrages against American facilities across Kuwait and Bahrain. According to the Associated Press, the number of American service members injured in the conflict since last Monday has risen to 13.reuters+2

Kuwait's airspace has been closed and reopened multiple times since the conflict began in February 2026, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency advising operators to avoid Kuwaiti airspace entirely. The repeated disruptions have left Kuwait Airways passengers facing an uncertain travel environment, with dozens of flights delayed or cancelled in recent days even before Saturday's full suspension.thetraveler+1