India on Wednesday condemned the Iranian attack on Kuwait International Airport that killed an Indian national and called for an end to targeting of civilian infrastructure, even as the total number of Indians killed in the region since the conflict began in West Asia rose to 10.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait City initially confirmed the death of the Indian citizen. In a post on social media, the mission expressed its “deep condolences on the tragic death of an Indian citizen due to an attack on Kuwait Airport,” and said it was coordinating with the Kuwaiti authorities to provide assistance to the bereaved family and those injured in the incident.
A later Foreign Ministry statement condemned the attack on Kuwait International Airport and said a number of Indians were among the wounded.
“Since the beginning of the conflict in West Asia, we have strongly urged not to target civilian populations and civilian infrastructure. We once again call on the parties to stop such attacks,” the statement said.
“We remain in close contact with local authorities for the well-being of Indian citizens,” the statement said, adding that Indian missions and posts across the region “are on alert and continue to proactively support our community.”
People familiar with the matter said that the dead Indian was a worker at the airport. Kuwait is home to over a million Indians, the largest expatriate community in the country.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Iranian attacks on its territory resulted in the death of one person and damaged vital infrastructure, including diplomatic missions, while the Ministry of Health said that 63 people were injured. Kuwait’s General Civil Aviation Authority suspended air traffic and redirected flights to alternative airports after the attacks.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, Lebanon, and Jordan also condemned the Iranian attacks on civilian facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attacks were carried out in response to an air strike on its facilities on Qeshm Island.
In May, an Indian sailor was killed and several others injured when their sailboat caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States in the vital waterway.
Eight more Indian nationals were killed in the conflict in West Asia, while dozens were injured across the region. In March, an Indian citizen was killed and another injured by debris from a missile interception in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
An Indian citizen died in an Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait in March. Another Indian national was killed in missile and drone attacks on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the same month.
Two other Indians were killed in an attack on an industrial zone in Oman on March 13, and three sailors were killed in attacks on commercial ships in the early days of the conflict. An Indian national was also reported missing.
