For residents of the oil-rich Persian Gulf, Iran’s attack was unexpected and terrifying. Many foreigners temporarily left the country as Iran launched salvos of missiles and drones, hitting airports, residential buildings and oil installations.
For the people of tiny Kuwait – just 80 kilometers from Iran – the conflict awakens memories of decades ago, when the country found itself at the center of the first Gulf War.
In Kuwait’s capital, Khalid Al-Ozaina, a vivacious 70-year-old fisherman, squints against the sun as he recalls Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s invasion on August 2, 1990: “That was the last time we were banned from fishing,” he says.
Around him, hundreds of pleasure boats remain parked at the docks of the fishing club he manages. He gazes wistfully at the seemingly calm waters of the marina, longing to fish again.
Legacy of Hussein’s war and occupation of Kuwait
Saddam Hussein’s war was brutal, leaving lasting impacts on the society and politics of Kuwait, which became dependent on both the United States and its close neighbors.
During seven months of occupation, thousands of Kuwaiti civilians and soldiers died. Hussein claimed the country’s oil as his own, but his troops were expelled by a coalition of 39 nations in Operation Desert Storm, led by then-US President George Bush.
As Iraqi troops fled, they set the oil fields on fire, blanketing the country in black smoke and sticky rain. The situation was only controlled with the help of Texas oil fire expert Paul “Red” Adair.
Current risks and population resilience
The impacts of the conflict are being felt again. American military bases remain strategic despite Iranian attacks that killed six US service members and four Kuwaitis. An 11-year-old girl died after being hit by drone shrapnel.
The crucial points remain: , about 805 km from Kuwait, and , in Iran, 209 km. With Kuwait just 80 km from Iran, oil installations and ships in the region remain vulnerable.
Despite this, many Kuwaitis show resilience. Khaled Al-Rashid, a retired air traffic controller, notes that the country is better protected: “Today, there are only missiles, and the air defense intercepts 98% of them,” he says. Families continue to frequent the streets, shops and cafes, celebrating the end of Ramadan with caution.
“The Iranian regime believes that the Gulf States can put pressure on the US, which is why they target oil installations to increase prices,” explains Al-Rashid. But he adds: “They can launch more missiles, but that won’t destabilize us.”
The Kuwaiti government, however, has banned large wedding celebrations and concerts during Eid al-Fitr, due to security fears.
Al-Ozaina, president of the fishing club, estimates that the conflict could last “six, even seven months”, while Al-Rashid warns: “This is a war in which Kuwait has no interest and would not benefit… Whoever confronts Iran will lose.”
