Once its saviour, US puts Kuwait in Iran's crosshairs
Like many Kuwaitis, Salem Al-Ghanem still vividly remembers Iraqi tanks rolling through his hometown when his small Gulf state faced extinction had US troops not liberated it from invasion. Now, decades later and six months into the US-Iran war, some are seeing those same American troops as more of a liability than an asset, as their presence has put Kuwait in Tehran's line of fire.
Once seen as a savior, the United States now finds Kuwait in Iran's crosshairs, with the Islamic republic and its allies repeatedly targeting the small Gulf state with barrages. Since the Middle East conflict began in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Iran and its allies have focused their attacks on Kuwait, targeting civilian infrastructure, including water desalination plants and energy installations, as well as bases housing American troops.
The country's reliance on oil exports for revenue, combined with Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has put Kuwait in a difficult economic position. Despite the ongoing conflict, some Kuwaitis are questioning the presence of American troops, weighing the potential benefits of their protection against the risks posed by Iran's aggression.
A senior foreign diplomat based in Kuwait told AFP that the country faces a dilemma, unable to drop the US as Iran grows emboldened while also feeling the strain of being targeted due to its proximity to American forces.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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