Iran targets Kuwait as Gulf tensions spike; Netanyahu pushes unity ahead of vote
Iran attacks Kuwait in retaliation for US strikes; Netanyahu seeks to unite right-wing parties ahead of October elections.
Iran launched missile and drone attacks against Kuwait early Thursday, prompting air defense interceptions and sirens across the country. Kuwait's Ministry of Defense described the assault as "blatant Iranian aggression" in a statement on social media.
The strike follows similar incidents in which US allies Bahrain and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian aerial attacks on Wednesday. The escalation comes after American forces targeted Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, claiming Tehran intended to use the weapons to deploy mines in the crucial waterway.
In a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to consolidate the country's fragmented right-wing factions into larger political blocs ahead of the October 27 election. Several small pro-Netanyahu parties, including hard-line groups led by ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are currently competing for votes, potentially splitting the prime minister's support base.
Netanyahu's political future hinges on the upcoming vote, which many view as a referendum on his nearly 17-year tenure. His leadership has been tested by widespread protests, the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, and nearly three years of ongoing conflict. A victory would mark a significant comeback, while defeat could end the career of a politician who has dominated Israeli politics for three decades.