Terrorism in Kuwait explained

Kuwait has experienced various terror attacks, including those carried out by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other acts of Islamic terrorism. Various terror attacks in Kuwait were associated with the Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War, and the subsequent American military support in Kuwait.

Kuwait currently has the largest US military presence in the entire Middle East region.^[1] There are over 14,000 US military personnel stationed in the country.^[1]

1970s

• 1974 attack on the Japanese Embassy in Kuwait
• June 17, 1976: The Al-Anba newspaper building was bombed. editorial offices were destroyed. Five people, including the editor-in-chief, were wounded.^[2]

1980s

• December 1983 - 1983 Kuwait Bombing were attacks on six key installations in Kuwait.
• April 1985 - Ahmed Al-Jarallah was subjected to an assassination attempt when a gunman opened fire on him outside his offices. He was shot six times.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}
• May 1985 - A failed assassination attempt was made on Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah, who was the emir of Kuwait at the time.
• July 1985 - 1985 Kuwait City bombings in which two coffeehouses were bombed.
• January 1987 - Bomb exploded in a shopping district on the eve of the Organization of Islamic Conference meeting.
• July 1987 - Car bombs exploded in a fashionable shopping district, killing two people and blowing the facades off several stores.^[7]
• 1984-1988 Aircraft hijackings

1990s

Several terror attacks associated with the Gulf War and an assassination attempt on actor Abdulhussain Abdulredha for an anti-Iraq theatrical play.^[8]

2000s

• October 8, 2002 - Failaka Island attack, in which two Kuwaiti citizens with ties to jihadists in Afghanistan attacked a group of unarmed United States Marines conducting a training exercise on Failaka island, killing one before being killed themselves.^[9]
• October 10, 2002 - Two gunmen with ties to Al-Qaeda open fire on an American Humvee.^[10]
• November 21, 2002 - Two American contractors with Tapestry Corporation were wounded while driving a civilian vehicle when a Kuwaiti police sergeant opened fire at them at close range.
• January 31, 2005 - Kuwait Police infiltrate a terrorist cell belonging to the Peninsula Lions in a Salmiya apartment complex. Five terrorist members and a civilian bystander were killed.
• August 11, 2009 - Kuwaiti authorities reported that they had arrested six individuals accused of planning attacks on U.S. troops stationed at Camp Arifjan. The six men allegedly belong to a terrorist group with ties to Al-Qaeda.
• December 11, 2003 - Ahmed Al-Jarallah's secretary at Al-Seyassah was injured when he opened a large envelope addressed to Jarallah, sent from Beirut, Lebanon. The envelope bomb contained the plastic explosive Semtex.^{[11] [12] [13]}

2010s

• June 26, 2015 - 2015 Kuwait mosque bombing - A bombing occurred during Friday prayer at masjid Imam al-Sadeq when a man was seen on surveillance cameras rushing into the masjid and then detonating himself. 27 people killed with 227 injured. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bombing.^[14] It was the largest terror attack in Kuwait's history.
• August 13, 2015 - Kuwaiti security forces arrested Al-Abdali terror cell belonging to Iran and Hezbollah.^{[15] [16]}
• 2017 - No terrorist incidents were reported in Kuwait in 2017, despite various attempts by ISIS.^[17]

2020s

• January 25, 2024 - Kuwaiti security forces arrested 3 Tunisians over ISIS terrorist plot to bomb Shiite places of worship.^[18]

References

1. News: Factbox: U.S. forces in Gulf region and Iraq. 8 January 2020. en.
2. Web site: حدث في مثل هذا اليوم في الكويت . kuna.
3. Seale, Patrick. Abu Nidal: a gun for hire. Random House, 1992. p. 130
4. CIA Terrorism Review (U). Directorate of Intelligence. 5/6/1985. p.33. Declassified document.
5. Najeeb Al-Wagayan, Sabah al-Shemmari. Major Political Crimes in Kuwait. 1997. p. 203
6. Melman, Yossi. The master terrorist: the true story of Abu-Nidal. p. 206. Adama Books, 1986
7. News: 15 July 1987 . Car Bomb Kills 2 in Kuwait . Associated Press News . https://web.archive.org/web/20210307193719/https://apnews.com/article/f7aedfd76aad52e45317c92b7655686a . 2021-03-07 .
8. Jeff Dunham captain of artists and media
9. Web site: US marine shot dead in Kuwait. TheGuardian.com. 9 October 2002.
10. News: U.S. Marine Is Killed in Kuwait As Gunmen Strike Training Site. 2002-10-09. New York Times. 2009-07-31. Eric. Schmitt.
11. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,CPJ,,KWT,47c566aa23,0.html Attacks on the Press in 2003 - Kuwait
12. http://www.ifex.org/kuwait/2003/12/11/letter_bomb_injures_editor_s_secretary/ KUWAIT: Letter bomb injures editor's secretary
13. "More Letter Bomb Attacks on Kuwaiti Writers". Mailroom Safety News. December 15, 2003
14. News: Terrorist Attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait Kill Dozens. The New York Times. 26 June 2015. Hubbard. Ben.
15. Web site: Kuwait uncovers 'terror' cell's giant arms cache . Aljazeera.
16. Web site: Toumi . Habib . Chief . Bureau . Kuwait re-arrests 12 convicts . gulf news.
17. Web site: Country Reports on Terrorism 2017 - Kuwait. 19 September 2018. Refworld.
18. Web site: 2024-01-25 . Kuwait Thwarts Terrorist Plot Targeting Shiite Places Of Worship - 3 Tunisians Arrested - ARAB TIMES - KUWAIT NEWS . 2024-01-28 . www.arabtimesonline.com . en-US.