Kuwait says foiled infiltration attempt by four members of Iran's Guards

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Kuwait City: Kuwaiti authorities announced on Tuesday that four individuals arrested earlier this month for attempting to enter the country by sea have confessed to being members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. 

The group consisting of two navy colonels, a captain, and a lieutenant commander reportedly admitted they were tasked by Iran’s ideological army with infiltrating Bubiyan Island, Kuwait's largest territory located near the Iranian coast.

The incident occurred on May 1 when the group attempted to land on the island using a fishing boat specifically chartered for "hostile actions" against Kuwait. 

During the infiltration attempt, an exchange of fire broke out, resulting in the wounding of a Kuwaiti serviceman. While four officers were apprehended, two other members of the Revolutionary Guard managed to escape the scene.

In response to the incident, the Kuwaiti foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Toutounji, to deliver a formal letter of protest. 

The ministry officially denounced the infiltration and subsequent clashes with Kuwaiti Armed Forces as a ‘hostile act’ and a ‘flagrant attack’ on the nation's sovereignty. 

This marks the fourth time the ambassador has been summoned since the regional conflict and Iran's retaliation against Gulf nations began in late February.

Iran’s foreign ministry has denied the allegations, characterizing them as ‘absolutely baseless’. Iranian officials claim the officers entered Kuwaiti waters by mistake due to a ‘disruption in the navigation system’ and have accused Kuwait of "politically and propagandistically exploiting the case". Tehran has requested immediate embassy access to the detained officers.

The infiltration attempt comes amid a broader security crackdown in Kuwait targeting individuals and entities with alleged links to Iran. In mid-April, 24 people were arrested for financing ‘terrorist’ entities, a group that reportedly included five former lawmakers. Kuwait has asserted that it reserves ‘the right to self-defence’ as tensions in the region continue to escalate.