Kuwait says Revolutionary Guards targeted island earlier this month

WorldPolitics
12 May 2026 • 10:49 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

DPA, founded in 1949, one of the world’s leading independent news agencies

Kuwait on Tuesday accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) being behind a failed attack on one of its islands earlier this month.

Six armed men approached the Kuwaiti island of Bubiyan in a fishing boat on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard on May 1, the Interior Ministry said.

Two of them fled during an exchange of fire with security forces, whilst the other four men were arrested.

The uninhabited island of Bubiyan lies in northern Kuwait on the border with Iraq and is also just a few kilometres from Iran.

China is developing a major port on the island as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, with plans to develop Bubiyan and other islands for trade and tourism.

The four detainees have admitted being members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and acting on its behalf, according to the Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA. The fishing boat had been chartered to carry out “hostile acts” against Kuwait, the report said.