Kuwait’s foreign ministry said in a statement it condemned the “criminal Iranian attacks” targeting the country with missiles and drones, calling the incident a “dangerous escalation.” The statement came after Kuwait’s military announced that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed hostile aerial threats over the country.

The Kuwaiti army did not initially identify the source of the projectiles, but said explosions heard across parts of the country resulted from interception operations carried out by air defense units. Authorities urged residents to comply with official security and safety instructions.

The U.S. military later described the incident as a serious breach of the ceasefire framework that has largely held since April. United States Central Command said in a statement that the missile strike on Kuwait represented an “egregious ceasefire violation.”

CENTCOM added that Iranian forces had earlier launched five one-way attack drones posing threats in and near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. military, all five drones were intercepted by American forces, which also prevented the launch of a sixth drone.

Iran acknowledged that U.S. forces had struck what Washington described as an Iranian drone operation threatening military assets and commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said it subsequently targeted a U.S. air base at approximately 4:50 a.m. GMT following what it characterized as an earlier American strike near Bandar Abbas airport, though Iranian authorities did not specify the location of the base.

The latest exchanges mark one of the most serious escalations since a ceasefire took effect following the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran earlier this year. Despite a reduction in large-scale hostilities since April, Gulf states have continued to report intermittent drone incursions and missile threats originating from regional flashpoints, including Iraq.

Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks through its foreign ministry, denouncing what it called the continuation of “treacherous Iranian attacks” against Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates also issued a statement condemning what it described as “terrorist drone and missile attacks” targeting Kuwaiti territory, calling them a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi said the continued attacks violated international law, the United Nations Charter and principles of good-neighborly relations.

The developments come as diplomatic efforts continue over a possible U.S.-Iran understanding aimed at extending the ceasefire and reopening negotiations surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program, though uncertainty remains over the durability of the truce amid continued military activity across the Gulf.

Major General Avi Bluth, commander of the Israeli military’s Central Command, signed the implementing order required to enforce the legislation in the West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.

The measure follows legislation passed by the Knesset in March authorizing capital punishment for Palestinians convicted of attacks resulting in the deaths of Israeli citizens.

Under the military order, courts handling such cases must impose the death penalty as the default sentence unless judges determine that unspecified “special circumstances” justify life imprisonment instead.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that provisions within the legislation make its application overwhelmingly directed at Palestinians. The law requires proof that the accused acted with intent to undermine the existence of the State of Israel or the authority of the military commander in the territory, conditions critics say are unlikely to be applied to Jewish Israeli suspects.

The legislation has prompted legal and diplomatic criticism amid heightened tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza Strip.
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt jointly condemned the measure, warning that it entrenched discriminatory policies against Palestinians.

In a joint statement, the countries described the law as a dangerous escalation and accused Israel of advancing practices amounting to apartheid while denying Palestinians’ rights in the occupied territories.
The ministers also cited what they called credible reports of abuses against Palestinian detainees, including torture, starvation and denial of basic rights, arguing the death penalty law risked intensifying existing tensions.

Israeli authorities have defended the legislation as a counterterrorism measure intended to deter attacks against civilians.

In a statement, the UAE foreign ministry said Iran had launched nearly 3,000 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones toward the UAE and other countries across the region, causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The ministry described the attacks as a violation of state sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security and stability.

“The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked Iranian attacks and threats targeting the UAE and countries across the region,” the statement said.

The ministry added that all measures taken by the UAE were defensive in nature and aimed at protecting civilians, infrastructure and national security interests.
It said attempts to pressure the UAE through “coercion” or what it called “malicious narratives and allegations” would not alter the country’s policies or undermine its sovereign decision-making.

The statement came after weeks of heightened regional tensions triggered by a military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.

The conflict prompted retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting Gulf states, Israel and US assets across the region, raising concerns over the security of energy infrastructure and maritime routes.

A ceasefire announced on April 7 has largely held despite sporadic skirmishes and continued diplomatic strain between regional powers.

The UAE has repeatedly called for de-escalation and regional stability while maintaining close security coordination with Western allies and Gulf partners amid the ongoing tensions.

“The UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it,” Araghchi said while attending the BRICS gathering hosted by India.“It also became clear that they participated in these attacks and may have even acted directly against us,” he added, without publicly providing evidence to support the allegation.

The remarks underscored widening fractures within BRICS as the bloc attempts to project unity amid the war involving Iran and intensifying geopolitical instability across the Middle East.

Araghchi also referenced reports circulated by Israeli media concerning an alleged secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Emirates.Abu Dhabi has denied that any such meeting took place.

According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, Araghchi said he had initially avoided explicitly naming the UAE “for the sake of unity” during discussions among BRICS member states.“When the attacks started, they didn’t even issue a condemnation,” Araghchi said in response to remarks from the Emirati delegation.

The accusations come as BRICS foreign ministers meet to discuss the economic and geopolitical fallout from the Iran conflict, including disruptions to Gulf shipping lanes, energy markets and rising divisions among member countries.The UAE and Iran both joined BRICS during the bloc’s expansion phase in 2024, despite longstanding regional rivalries and competing strategic interests across the Gulf.

India, which currently chairs BRICS, is seeking to maintain consensus among members ahead of a leaders’ summit later this year, though disagreements over the Middle East conflict have complicated efforts to produce unified positions on global security issues.

India’s foreign ministry described the incident as “unacceptable,” saying commercial shipping and civilian mariners continued to face threats amid heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said all Indian crew members aboard the vessel had been rescued safely by Omani authorities but did not identify the ship or specify who New Delhi believed was responsible for the attack.Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the MSV Hajj Ali, a wooden cargo dhow carrying 14 crew members.

The company said it received reports that the ship sank off Limah, Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz, after a suspected explosion.According to Vanguard, the vessel was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somaliland to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when it was apparently struck by what was believed to be a drone or missile.

A fire reportedly broke out onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it sank, the company said.Ship-tracking platform Maritime Traffic lists the MSV Hajj Ali as a 54-meter wooden dhow commonly used in regional cargo trade across Gulf and Arabian Sea routes.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of war involving Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran has imposed extensive restrictions on maritime movement through the waterway, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports despite a ceasefire agreed in early April.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments during normal operating conditions, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets and import-dependent economies such as India.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the foreign ministry added.The incident occurred as India hosted foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc in New Delhi, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Speaking during the summit, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic provided vessels coordinated with Iranian naval authorities, though he did not directly address the attack on the Indian vessel.

India, which holds the BRICS presidency this year, is hosting the two-day meeting involving founding members Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa alongside newer entrants including Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The summit comes as the war involving Iran and escalating instability around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt shipping lanes and fuel markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing economies across Asia.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the discussions would focus on “global and regional issues of mutual interest,” while diplomats indicated energy security, trade flows and geopolitical coordination would be central themes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi late Wednesday, according to Iran’s embassy, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar shortly after arriving in the Indian capital.

Jaishankar said discussions with Lavrov covered “trade and investment, energy and connectivity” as well as broader multilateral issues, adding that political coordination among BRICS members had become increasingly important in a “volatile global environment.”The conflict in Iran has heightened concerns in India, which depends heavily on Middle Eastern crude oil and fertilizer imports.

Disruptions to Gulf shipping routes have contributed to volatility in oil and gas prices, complicating New Delhi’s economic outlook.Originally established in 2009 as a coalition of major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers, BRICS has expanded rapidly in recent years as member states sought to strengthen political and economic coordination across the Global South.

The bloc now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, though officials have not confirmed whether all member states are represented at the meeting.Despite efforts to project unity, internal divisions remain pronounced.

Differences over the Middle East conflict, relations with Western powers and regional rivalries have complicated attempts to present a unified diplomatic position.Indian officials declined to confirm whether the ministers would issue a joint communique at the end of the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet participating foreign ministers ahead of a broader BRICS leaders’ summit scheduled later this year.

“The UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it,” Araghchi said while attending the BRICS gathering hosted by India.“It also became clear that they participated in these attacks and may have even acted directly against us,” he added, without publicly providing evidence to support the allegation.

The remarks underscored widening fractures within BRICS as the bloc attempts to project unity amid the war involving Iran and intensifying geopolitical instability across the Middle East.

Araghchi also referenced reports circulated by Israeli media concerning an alleged secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Emirates.

Abu Dhabi has denied that any such meeting took place.According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, Araghchi said he had initially avoided explicitly naming the UAE “for the sake of unity” during discussions among BRICS member states.

“When the attacks started, they didn’t even issue a condemnation,” Araghchi said in response to remarks from the Emirati delegation.The accusations come as BRICS foreign ministers meet to discuss the economic and geopolitical fallout from the Iran conflict, including disruptions to Gulf shipping lanes, energy markets and rising divisions among member countries.

The UAE and Iran both joined BRICS during the bloc’s expansion phase in 2024, despite longstanding regional rivalries and competing strategic interests across the Gulf.

India, which currently chairs BRICS, is seeking to maintain consensus among members ahead of a leaders’ summit later this year, though disagreements over the Middle East conflict have complicated efforts to produce unified positions on global security issues.

India’s foreign ministry described the incident as “unacceptable,” saying commercial shipping and civilian mariners continued to face threats amid heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said all Indian crew members aboard the vessel had been rescued safely by Omani authorities but did not identify the ship or specify who New Delhi believed was responsible for the attack.

Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the MSV Hajj Ali, a wooden cargo dhow carrying 14 crew members. The company said it received reports that the ship sank off Limah, Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz, after a suspected explosion.

According to Vanguard, the vessel was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somaliland to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when it was apparently struck by what was believed to be a drone or missile.A fire reportedly broke out onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it sank, the company said.

Ship-tracking platform Maritime Traffic lists the MSV Hajj Ali as a 54-meter wooden dhow commonly used in regional cargo trade across Gulf and Arabian Sea routes.Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of war involving Iran on Feb. 28.

Tehran has imposed extensive restrictions on maritime movement through the waterway, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports despite a ceasefire agreed in early April.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments during normal operating conditions, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets and import-dependent economies such as India.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the foreign ministry added.The incident occurred as India hosted foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc in New Delhi, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Speaking during the summit, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic provided vessels coordinated with Iranian naval authorities, though he did not directly address the attack on the Indian vessel.

The two-day meeting comes as the expanded BRICS grouping, now comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, faces growing diplomatic strain over the Gulf conflict and its economic fallout.

Iran has urged India, which holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026, to use the forum to forge a consensus condemning military actions by the United States and Israel, according to officials familiar with preparations for the meeting.

The sharpest divisions have emerged between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are aligned on opposing sides of the conflict that erupted following military operations launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi late on Wednesday for the talks, which run through May 15. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to attend, while it remained unclear who would represent the UAE delegation.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this year that forging consensus within BRICS had become difficult because several member states were directly involved in the conflict.

An Indian government official told Reuters New Delhi remained hopeful that discussions among ministers could still result in a joint communique despite continuing disagreements.

“Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming,” former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri said. “This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south.”

China will instead be represented by its ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi is not expected to attend due to President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing this week.

The war has intensified pressure on BRICS economies through rising energy costs and market volatility, prompting several member states, including India, to introduce emergency measures aimed at cushioning consumers and stabilizing domestic markets.

China has maintained a publicly neutral position throughout the conflict while balancing close ties with Iran alongside expanding economic and diplomatic relations with Sunni-majority Gulf states.

Speaking at the Tel Aviv Conference in Tel Aviv, Huckabee said Israel had assisted the UAE’s air defenses amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

“Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them,” Huckabee said, praising the UAE as the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
The UAE did not immediately comment on Huckabee’s remarks.

The disclosure underscores increasingly open military coordination between Israel and Gulf Arab states that share concerns over Iran’s regional influence and missile capabilities.

Regional tensions remain elevated despite the current ceasefire, with concerns continuing over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route long viewed as vulnerable to disruption during confrontations involving Tehran.

Huckabee also expressed optimism that additional Middle Eastern countries could join the Abraham Accords, which established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including Bahrain.

The accords, brokered in 2020, reshaped regional alignments by fostering economic, diplomatic and security ties between Israel and Arab governments concerned about Iran’s expanding influence.

However, broader normalization efforts across the Arab world have been complicated by Israel’s military operations following the Hamas-led attacks in 2023 and the continuing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

Huckabee said Gulf governments increasingly viewed Iran, rather than Israel, as the more immediate regional security threat.