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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - One worker was killed and severe material damage was inflicted on a Chinese company in northern Kuwait, the Kuwaiti defense ministry reported on Thursday. This comes as the Jordanian armed forces on the same day said they intercepted missiles launched from Iran as well.
"A sinful Iranian aggression targeted a building belonging to a Chinese company in the country’s northern part, resulting in the death of one worker and causing severe material damage to the building," ministry spokesperson Colonel Saud Abdulaziz al-Atwan said in a statement.
Atwan added that “the competent authorities began responding to the incident immediately, in coordination with relevant parties.
He added that Kuwait's armed forces remain committed to carrying out their duties "with high efficiency," taking “all necessary measures to protect national sovereignty and preserve security and stability” while safeguarding the safety of citizens and residents.
As of the time of this report, the Iranian military had not released a statement claiming an attack on Kuwait.
Instead, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its "aerospace forces targeted the air base and central command center of the American army in Jordan with several ballistic missiles."
Earlier on Thursday, the Jordanian armed forces reported that the kingdom’s air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran.
In a separate statement issued the same day, the IRGC said it had forced two vessels to reroute in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Last night, two oil tankers - prompted by American aircraft - attempted to exit via the unsafe southern route of the Strait of Hormuz," the Corps said, adding that after "a massive fire broke out in one of them, both vessels swiftly turned back."
The IRGC further claimed that "the Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and the brave fighters of the IRGC Navy firmly hold control over it," adding that "foreigners who have traveled thousands of kilometers will not be permitted to interfere."
Importantly, the Corps warned “countries” it alleged were "involved in assisting the [American] aggressor" that they "will receive a harsh response if they do not correct their behavior."
The escalation comes as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces completed “a heavy wave of strikes against Iran” in the early morning hours of Thursday “in response to yesterday's attempted missile attacks on U.S. forces.”
CENTCOM on Wednesday relayed that the IRGC had "launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East."
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