The New York Times reported that Kuwait on Tuesday said Iran sent several members of its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to infiltrate a strategically important Kuwaiti island.
On May 1, a group of armed members of the Revolutionary Guards arrived at Bubiyan Island in the Persian Gulf aboard a rented fishing boat and exchanged fire with Kuwaiti soldiers, injuring one of them, Kuwait’s interior ministry said in a statement.
It said four members of the Revolutionary Guards were arrested while two others fled.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry identified all six of the attackers and said they included officers in the Iranian navy and army.
🇰🇼 Kuwait has accused Iran of attempting a failed attack on Bubiyan Island, which hosts a China-funded port project.
Kuwait has formally summoned the Iranian ambassador and delivered a strong protest note after a group of IRGC terrorists infiltrated Bubiyan Island, a highly… pic.twitter.com/oTHW1IjkFX
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 12, 2026
BREAKING: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) conducted an armed infiltration against Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island.
The UAE has issued a strong condemnation, along with other Gulf Nations.
The Islamic Republic continues to attack Arab countries.
Where is the outrage? pic.twitter.com/vyIP7nitZy
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 12, 2026
Kuwaiti authorities, much like their counterparts in neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, have cracked down on individuals and groups they say have links with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Gulf states exposed more than twelve Iranian cells in under a month in the U.A.E., Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The cells were pre-positioned sleeper operatives trained to destabilize at Tehran’s command.
Gulf states exposed 12+ Iranian cells in 27 days across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Kuwait yesterday arrested four IRGC-linked Iranians attempting sea infiltration. Tehran denies it.
Emirates security research chief Al-Nuaimi told Sky News Arabiya the cells were… pic.twitter.com/Sp6vepq3Nk
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 13, 2026