Iran claims "Patriot" missile caused damage to Kuwait airport, US military denies
Xinhua News Agency, Tehran/Washington, June 3 - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran stated on the 3rd that no missiles were fired at the passenger terminal of Kuwait International Airport, and that the damage to the terminal was caused by the falling debris of the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system. The U.S. Central Command denied this claim.
Hosseini Moghaddam, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that the Iranian investigation concluded that the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guard did not fire any missiles at Kuwait Airport. Evidence shows that the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system malfunctioned after failing to intercept Iranian missiles, resulting in interceptors falling into the airport passenger terminal and causing damage.
The U.S. Central Command immediately issued a statement, calling the Iranian claim "completely false," and accused Iran of "deliberately, systematically, and without justification" using drones to attack civilian airports.
Earlier on the 3rd, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian posted on social media, emphasizing that the missile and drone attacks launched by the Iranian armed forces were "defensive strikes" targeting those "locations approved by the U.S. for attacks on civilian shipping, violating ceasefire agreements."
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 3rd, saying that several civilian facilities, including Kuwait International Airport, were attacked by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. Kuwait temporarily suspended air traffic and closed its airspace. Currently, Kuwait International Airport has resumed flight operations.
On June 3, 2023, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard denied launching missiles at Kuwait International Airport, claiming damage was caused by a malfunction of the U.S. Patriot missile defense system. The U.S. Central Command refuted these claims, stating they were completely false. The incident resulted in one civilian death and multiple injuries, prompting Kuwait to temporarily suspend air traffic before resuming operations.
- Iran denies launching missiles at Kuwait International Airport.
- Damage to the airport was attributed to a malfunction of the U.S. Patriot missile system.
- One person was killed and several injured due to the incident.
- U.S. Central Command refutes Iranian claims, stating they are false.
- Kuwait temporarily suspended air traffic due to the incident.