Iraq's Basra unrest erupts after deadly rocket strike, Kuwaiti consulate stormed

Tensions flared sharply in southern Iraq after angry protesters stormed and vandalised Kuwait’s consulate in Basra on Tuesday, following a deadly rocket attack that killed at least three people in nearby Khor al-Zubair. According to police and health officials, rockets fired from the direction of Kuwait struck a residential house, leaving five others injured, while rescue teams continued searching for family members trapped beneath the rubble, news agency Reuters reported.

Police warned that the death toll may rise as debris removal operations continue. The attack sparked outrage in Basra, where demonstrators gathered outside the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission before breaching the premises, raising concerns over the security of foreign missions in Iraq.

Kuwait strongly condemned the storming of its consulate, calling it a “serious breach of diplomatic norms.” In a statement, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said Iraq bears responsibility for ensuring the safety of diplomatic and consular missions on its territory. The ministry also reiterated that Kuwait is not party to any regional conflict and will not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks against any country.

Meanwhile, the regional security situation worsened further as Iraqi air defences reportedly intercepted three drones over Baghdad, with all of them falling into the Tigris River. Separate rocket attacks also targeted areas in the Iraqi capital, injuring two people after one projectile landed in the al-Amal al-Shaabi district of al-Amiriyah, according to Al Jazeera.

In another major escalation, two rockets struck the US Camp Victory military installation near Baghdad Airport, sparking fires inside the base, according to security sources.

Amid fears of further retaliation and spillover violence, Kuwait’s Interior Ministry imposed an overnight stay-at-home advisory for citizens and residents from midnight on April 7 until 6 a.m. on April 8. In a post on X, the ministry described the move as a precautionary safety measure, urging people to leave their homes only in emergencies as authorities strengthen emergency response systems.

The developments underline rising cross-border tensions in the Gulf region, with Iraq and Kuwait both on heightened alert over the risk of a wider regional confrontation.

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