ABU DHABI Ñ Kuwait plans to close half of its territory to enable
the U.S. military to launch an attack on neighboring Iraq.
The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry said the entire northern region would be
deemed a closed military zone as of Feb. 15. The zone would also include
territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
In October, Kuwait closed the border area with Iraq to allow U.S. forces
to train, Middle East Newsline reported. The Defense Ministry's announcement on Tuesday added the
northeastern region to the closed military zone.
Starting from Feb. 15 the military will not allow any but authorized
persons to enter the northern region, officials said. Kuwaitis use much of
the northern region for hunting and vacations.
Officials said the expansion of the closed military zone would be
followed by curfews and restrictions on major highways. They said the roads
would be cleared to allow the U.S. military to transport troops and weapons
to the Iraqi border.
Kuwaiti military spokesman Col. Yusef Abdel Razzak Al Mulla said the
closed zone stretches from the western border point of Al Salmi to the Al
Abdali highway. It also moves along the Bay of Kuwait to the coastal town of
Ras Al Sabbiya.
Al Mulla said the closed zone also comprises most of the territorial
waters of Kuwait. This included the waters around the island of Failaka
until the north.
At this point, the spokesman said, Kuwait was not closing the air space
above the northern region.
Officials said Kuwaiti farmers would have access to their fields in the
north. But they said they would require special permits to enter the region.
