Kuwaitis question US bases as Iran's war reaches their doorstep
Some residents of Kuwait now view the American military presence as a risk, saying it draws Iranian attacks toward their country.
Kuwaiti national Ghanim Alsulaimani remembers the US role in liberating Kuwait from Iraqi invasion, yet the current US-Iran war has altered perceptions. After US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, Tehran and its partners have repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Kuwait, including water-desalination and energy facilities, as well as bases where American forces are stationed. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has further pressured Kuwait's oil exports, tightening its economic situation.
Some Kuwaitis now argue that the presence of US troops makes the small Gulf state a target for Iranian retaliation. While diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled, Alsulaimani continues to back the United States, highlighting a divide in public opinion.
Why it matters
The story shows how foreign military bases can affect host nations' security and economy amid regional wars.
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