Middle East "shadow war" escalates? Kuwait claims Iranian military personnel attempted to "infiltrate" strategic islands in the Persian Gulf, exchanged fire between the two sides, and four have been arrested.
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Signs of renewed tension and escalation have emerged in the Gulf region.
According to multiple media reports on Tuesday, the 12th local time, Kuwait claims that personnel of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island in Kuwait for “hostile action” and exchanged fire with Kuwaiti security forces during the operation.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday, the 12th local time, that four individuals claiming to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were arrested earlier this month. According to Kuwait's official news agency, these individuals tried to infiltrate Bubiyan Island by sea using a fishing vessel, and the Kuwaiti armed forces stationed on the island engaged in a firefight with them, seriously injuring a soldier.
According to US media, Kuwait accuses a paramilitary unit of the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of attempting to infiltrate Bubiyan Island for “hostile action,” but provided no further details. Kuwait says it has detained four men and that two others escaped when Kuwaiti forces thwarted the attack; a Kuwaiti security officer was injured in the operation.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently summoned the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait and stressed that Iran should bear “full responsibility” for the incident. Iran has not responded to any of the Kuwaiti allegations so far. This incident is seen as the latest signal of the “covert war” between Iran and Gulf Arab states becoming more overt.
The incident occurred on Bubiyan Island, which holds significant strategic importance. The island is located in the northwest corner of the Persian Gulf, near Iranian and Iraqi waters, and houses Kuwait’s large port project, Mubarak Al Kabeer Port. The port has been an important logistics and energy infrastructure hub in the Gulf region in recent years.
Meanwhile, several Gulf nations have recently intensified security actions targeting so-called “Iran-linked networks.” In addition to Kuwait, Bahrain has also announced the arrest of dozens of individuals alleged to be linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and has charged them with espionage and financing activities.
Analysts believe Kuwait's rare public naming of IRGC personnel “infiltration” shows Gulf states are noticeably more vigilant against Iran's activities, and suggests previously backstage regional rivalries are gradually becoming more open.
On the market level, although this incident has not directly triggered sharp oil price fluctuations, traders are continuously monitoring security risks in the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments by sea. If the situation further deteriorates, the energy market may again price in higher geopolitical risk premiums.
Details of the infiltration: IRGC officers disguised as fishermen land on the island
According to a Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense statement on May 3, the four arrested individuals have been identified as Navy Colonel Amir Hossein Abdolmohammad Zaraei, Navy Colonel Abdolsamad Yedaleh Ghanavati, Navy Captain Ahmad Jamshid Gholamreza Zolfaghari, and Army Lieutenant Mohammad Hossein Sohrab Foroughi Rad. All four were arrested in Kuwaiti territorial waters on May 1 while attempting to infiltrate Bubiyan Island.
According to Kuwaiti official media, during interrogations, these individuals admitted they were tasked by the Revolutionary Guard Corps, deliberately renting a fishing boat as cover, with the mission to carry out “hostile action” against Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior stated in its announcement that security forces would remain on high alert to respond to possible subsequent actions.
Early reports had discrepancies, claiming only two had been detained and the other two had escaped. Kuwaiti authorities later confirmed that all four had been arrested and their identities verified.
Regional tensions persist: US says Israel has deployed “Iron Dome” air defense in UAE
The incident of the Kuwaiti-claimed Iranian military “infiltration” occurred as the regional ceasefire situation remains fragile. Kuwait, UAE, and other Gulf states have previously been struck multiple times by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones during the joint US-Israeli “Epic Fury” operation against Iran, forcing some US forces to redeploy deeper in the region.
Currently, the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, with Iran deterring unauthorized transit vessels and the US Navy simultaneously blockading Iranian ports. Kuwait’s crude oil export routes are essentially at a standstill.
According to Xinhua, quoting Iranian media on Tuesday, the 12th, senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said that a US frigate recently attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces closely monitored it and issued a warning by firing upon observing its provocative behavior, prompting the ship to alter its course. Iran is keeping a close watch on developments and will not allow any infringement on its waters.
On Tuesday, multiple domestic and foreign media mentioned that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated Israel had deployed the “Iron Dome” air defense system and operators to the UAE. This underscores the rapid reshaping of defense postures in the Gulf region.
In addition to Huckabee’s statement, Daily Economic News noted that US Permanent Representative to the UN Waltz confirmed that Israel has deployed the “Iron Dome” system in the UAE and has helped intercept Iranian missiles for the UAE during recent conflicts.
According to Daily Economic News, quoting Israeli media on Tuesday, although relevant rumors had previously circulated, Israel, UAE, and the US had never publicly confirmed it. Huckabee’s statement on Tuesday was the first public confirmation that the “Iron Dome” is deployed and operational in the UAE. It's also the first time “Iron Dome” has been deployed outside Israel or the US.
Meanwhile, according to US media, Bahrain’s prosecutorial authorities announced on Tuesday that at least 24 people had been sentenced to prison for espionage and collusion with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, with three sentenced to life imprisonment. This is Bahrain’s latest action to suppress Iranian infiltration since the outbreak of war.
Iran has not responded to Kuwait’s allegations so far; previously, Iran has repeatedly denied launching large-scale attacks on Persian Gulf neighbors.
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