Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said on Friday it had arrested six people allegedly linked to the Lebanese, Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group for plotting assassinations targeting leaders and key state figures in the Gulf country.
The ministry said five of those detained are Kuwaiti citizens and that the suspects had been planning “assassinations targeting symbols and leaders of the state” while recruiting others to carry out the attacks.
The arrests come at a time of heightened regional tensions, with Gulf countries increasingly on alert over security threats linked to Iran and its allied groups. Kuwait, a close U.S. ally, has in recent weeks reported multiple security incidents tied to the broader fallout from the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict and Iranian retaliation.
In a statement, the ministry said investigations revealed a wider network, identifying 14 additional members believed to be involved in the alleged plot who had fled the country. These include five Kuwaiti nationals, five individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked, two Iranian nationals and two Lebanese nationals, officials said.
Authorities said the detained suspects had confessed during questioning to espionage activities and to joining a terrorist organisation. The case has been referred to the public prosecutor for further legal action.
The ministry did not provide details on the timeline of the alleged plot or the specific targets but said security agencies had acted to dismantle the network before any attacks could be carried out.
The arrests mark at least the third case in recent weeks in which individuals allegedly linked to Hezbollah have been detained in Kuwait, underscoring growing concerns about militant infiltration and covert operations in the Gulf.
Officials have not publicly commented on whether the alleged network had direct operational links to Hezbollah’s leadership, but the group, which is backed by Iran, has long been accused by Gulf states of supporting destabilising activities in the region.
The developments come as Kuwait faces increasing security pressure amid regional escalation. Earlier on Wednesday, Kuwaiti authorities said air defences had intercepted multiple Iranian drones over its territory. However, one drone reportedly struck a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, triggering a fire that was later brought under control.
That incident marked a rare direct impact of regional hostilities on Kuwaiti infrastructure and highlighted the vulnerability of even relatively stable Gulf states to spillover from broader geopolitical conflicts.
Analysts say the combination of external threats and internal security concerns could prompt Kuwait to tighten surveillance and counterterrorism measures in the coming weeks.
“There is clearly a heightened alert environment across the Gulf,” a regional security analyst said, pointing to recent drone incidents and arrests. “Authorities are moving quickly to disrupt any networks that could exploit the current tensions.”
Public reaction in Kuwait has been marked by concern but also support for swift security action, with residents expressing relief that the alleged plot was foiled before any violence occurred.
Kuwait has historically maintained a delicate balance in regional politics, often positioning itself as a mediator, but the latest incidents reflect the growing difficulty of insulating the country from escalating conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Investigations into the alleged network are ongoing, and authorities have indicated that further arrests could follow as they pursue those who fled the country.
