ALBAWABA- Kuwait has detained four individuals accused of belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after security forces reportedly foiled an infiltration attempt on strategically located Bubiyan Island earlier this month, prompting a diplomatic protest from Tehran.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said the incident occurred on May first, when a group of six armed operatives attempted to enter Bubiyan Island via a fishing vessel. Security forces intercepted the boat, arresting four suspects while two others escaped. One Kuwaiti serviceman was injured during the operation.
The detained individuals were identified by Kuwaiti authorities as two IRGC naval captains, one naval lieutenant, and one army lieutenant. Officials said preliminary interrogations indicated the group had been tasked with carrying out “hostile acts” on the island.
Bubiyan Island, Kuwait’s largest island in the northern Gulf near the Iraqi and Iranian maritime boundary, hosts major strategic infrastructure, including a China-backed port development project, making it a sensitive security location.
Following the announcement, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Toutounchi and delivered a formal protest note, condemning the alleged operation as a “blatant violation” of Kuwaiti sovereignty. Kuwait also called on Iran to halt any activities deemed hostile under international law.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry demanded consular access to its nationals, describing the request as a standard diplomatic procedure. Tehran has not yet issued a detailed public statement addressing the allegations.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the fragile US-Iran ceasefire and ongoing security volatility in the Gulf. Analysts say Bubiyan’s strategic position and ongoing infrastructure expansion have increased its geopolitical sensitivity.
The United Arab Emirates voiced strong support for Kuwait, with its foreign minister describing the alleged plot as a “terrorist act” and pledging solidarity.
