The attack took place after warnings by the Iraqi government for Kuwait
to terminate its $1 billion project to build a port at Mubarak Al Kabir,
located on the Bubiyan island near the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
The Iranian-sponsored Shi'ite militia, Hizbullah Brigades, had threatened
to fire rockets from Iraq toward the unfinished Kuwaiti port.
"We were expecting hostilities and have our forces were ready," an official
said.
This marked the first Iraqi attack on Kuwait since the U.S. invasion of
Iraq in 2003. During the brief war, the regime of then-President Saddam
Hussein fired medium-range rockets and Scud variants into the Gulf
Cooperation Council state.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry has sought to play down the attack, said to
have stemmed from Basra. The ministry has denied reports that Kuwait
violated Iraqi sovereignty.
"We are keen on pursuing constructive cooperation with the brothers in
Iraq with a view to cement ties between the two countries," a Kuwaiti
official said.
Kuwait has reported a military buildup along the border with Iraq.
Officials said the Interior Ministry has been reinforcing the border fence
as well as a checkpoint along the Iraqi frontier while the Defense Ministry
planned to build a landing pad for helicopters.
"We and our sons, who vowed loyalty and readiness to sacrifice for the
homeland and his highness the emir, are able to protect Kuwait from any
ground or sea attack on its lands." Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad
Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah said on Aug. 27.
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