In its condemnation, Qatar stresses the need to halt the unjustified Iranian attacks against neighbouring states, which are a serious threat to regional security.
Qatar has condemned the infiltration of Bubiyan Island by an armed group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after the men clashed with Kuwaiti armed forces before being apprehended.
In a statement on Tuesday, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident left one Kuwaiti serviceman injured and constituted a “blatant violation” of Kuwait’s sovereignty, warning that it marked a dangerous escalation with implications for regional security.
The ministry said Qatar fully supports Kuwait’s steps to protect its sovereignty, security and stability.
“The Ministry reaffirms Qatar’s full support for Kuwait and all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability, while praising the vigilance of Kuwaiti authorities and their successful handling of the incident,” the statement said.
Kuwait said that four people arrested earlier this month as they attempted to enter the country by sea confessed to belonging to IRGC.
The four suspects — two naval captains, a naval lieutenant and an army lieutenant — admitted they had been tasked by Iran’s army with “infiltrating” Bubiyan Island, Kuwait’s interior ministry said in a statement published by state news agency Kuna.
The island is Kuwait’s largest and is located near the Iranian coast.
The group attempted to enter on 1 May “aboard a fishing boat specially chartered to carry out hostile actions against Kuwait”, the ministry said.
A Kuwaiti serviceman was wounded during an exchange of fire with Kuwaiti forces on the island, and two members of the infiltrating group managed to escape, it added.
The Kuwait Ministry of Interior also confirmed that the suspects confessed they were tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island.
The Kuwaiti foreign ministry later said it had summoned the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Toutounji, to hand him “a letter of protest following the infiltration on the island of Bubiyan of an armed group belonging to the Revolutionary Guards and their involvement in clashes with the Kuwaiti Armed Forces”.
The ministry denounced it as a “hostile act” and a “flagrant attack” on Kuwait’s sovereignty, adding that it reserves “the right to self-defence”.
In its condemnation, Qatar also stresses the need to halt the unjustified Iranian attacks against neighboring states, which are a flagrant breach of international law and a serious threat to regional security.
The ministry also expressed Qatar’s wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured and prayed for the continued safety and protection of Kuwait and its people.