Kuwait Shuts Airspace Amid Renewed Iranian Attacks Disrupting Gulf Flights
Kuwait closed its airspace on July 18, 2026, as renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks caused another round of disruption to civilian flights across the Persian Gulf. Kuwait Airways said it rescheduled most of its flights because of the closure and urged passengers to check their flight status before traveling to the airport. The national carrier said it would send notifications and text messages to the telephone numbers listed in passenger bookings with details of schedule changes. It did not say how many flights were affected. The closure followed renewed Iranian attacks against Kuwait and other Gulf countries amid another escalation in fighting between Iran and the United States. Iran launched missiles and drones against targets in Kuwait after a seventh consecutive night of US strikes on Iran. Kuwaiti military and civilian infrastructure has come under attack during the latest fighting, including a power and water desalination facility. Kuwait has repeatedly closed or restricted its airspace during the conflict to protect civilian aircraft from missiles, drones and air-defense activity. Its civil aviation authority has previously described such closures as precautionary measures intended to protect passengers, airlines and operations at Kuwait International Airport. Kuwait appeared to be the only Gulf state to close its national airspace during the latest attacks. Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates also faced elevated threats, but their airspace remained open as of July 18.