Drones from Iraq strike Kuwait border sites, ministry says

BAGHDAD — Two northern land border sites in Kuwait were struck Friday by explosive-laden drones coming from Iraq, causing material damage but no casualties, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said.

“Two sites of the northern land border posts were targeted this morning in a hostile attack using two explosive drones, coming from the Republic of Iraq,” a ministry spokesperson said.

The attack adds to mounting Gulf diplomatic pressure on Baghdad over cross-border strikes by Iran-aligned armed factions. Kuwait has summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires twice since March. Saudi Arabia summoned Iraq’s ambassador on April 12 over attacks targeting the kingdom; Bahrain took similar action days later; and the United Arab Emirates summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires on April 16, delivering a formal protest note condemning continued strikes launched from Iraqi territory.

Six Arab states jointly called on Iraq last month to act against the attacks, describing them as “a flagrant violation” of their sovereignty. Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly rejected the use of its territory for such attacks and pledged to coordinate with neighboring countries.