Live fire at sea and drone 'revenge': Iraq-Kuwait dispute erupts again

Iraq and Kuwait have long been embroiled in a maritime border dispute, with tensions flaring once again after an Iraqi fisherman was killed by Kuwaiti forces. The Khor Abdullah waterway, situated between Iraq’s Al-Faw Peninsula and two Kuwaiti islands, has been a focal point of contention for decades. The waterway serves as a crucial shipping route for Iraq, while Kuwait utilizes it for ships heading to its Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.

The issue of maritime boundaries in the region dates back to 1932, with Kuwait officially recognizing Iraq’s border in 1963. However, the status of Khor Abdullah remained unresolved. In 1993, the United Nations published a border agreement, marking Point 162 as the final maritime point at the entrance to Khor Abdullah. Both countries agreed to regulate navigation and protect each other’s interests in the waterway through the 2012 Khor Abdullah agreement.

In 2023, Iraq complained to the U.N. Security Council that Kuwait had made unauthorized geographic changes beyond Point 162. This led to Iraq's Federal Supreme Court ruling the agreement unconstitutional in 2025, but no progress has been made in resolving the dispute. Recently, tensions escalated amid the ongoing Iran conflict, with Iraqi fishermen being targeted by Kuwaiti forces. This latest incident has reignited discussions about the rules of engagement and maritime law enforcement in the disputed border region.