Kuwait Arrests Four Iranian Revolutionary Guard Members After Incursion on Strategic Island
Kuwait City — Kuwaiti naval forces arrested four men on May 1 near Bubiyan Island after they allegedly attempted to infiltrate the territory. The Ministry of Interior confirmed the individuals are members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Incident
- Four men aboard a fishing boat were detained near Bubiyan Island, Kuwait’s largest and most strategically located territory.
- During the confrontation, a Kuwaiti service member was wounded by gunfire.
- Two other group members—identified as navy Captain Mansour Qambari and boat captain Abdulali Kazem Siamari—escaped.
Identities of the Arrested
The ministry named the arrested individuals as:
- Colonel Amir Hussein Abd Mohammed Zara'i
- Colonel Abdulsamad Yadallah Qanwati
- Captain Ahmed Jamshid Gholam Reza Zulfiqari
- First Lieutenant Mohammed Hussein Sehrab Faroughi Rad
Official Reactions
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incursion a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty and a breach of international law.
The ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to deliver a formal protest, demanding Iran cease such acts. It also reserved Kuwait's right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Bahrain's foreign minister expressed solidarity with Kuwait. Iran has not yet responded to the accusations.
Context and Recent Tensions
- Bubiyan Island is strategically located near shipping lanes, northern oilfields, and military installations.
- Earlier in the week, Kuwait reported intercepting "hostile drones" in its airspace, without specifying origin.
- In April, strikes hit Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery and a power and desalination plant; Kuwait attributed them to Iran.
- On March 30, an Indian national was killed in a similar attack on a power and desalination plant, also attributed by Kuwait to Iran. Tehran denied responsibility, blaming Israel.
Kuwait lies approximately 80 km from Iran's coastline and relies heavily on desalinated water, making such security breaches particularly sensitive.