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Kuwait Accuses Iran of IRGC Infiltration on Bubiyan Island
Kuwait said a six-man team from Iran's Revolutionary Guard attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island on May 1 to carry out hostile acts. Four attackers were detained while two escaped; one Kuwaiti security official was wounded. The allegation comes days before President Donald Trump travels to Beijing and as U.S.
May 12, 7:35 AM·2m read3 sources
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Kuwait accused Iran on Tuesday of sending an armed team from its Revolutionary Guard to infiltrate Bubiyan Island on May 1. Kuwaiti forces disrupted the attempt, detaining four members of the six-man team while two escaped. Kuwait identified those held as two naval captains, a naval lieutenant and an army lieutenant from the Revolutionary Guard.
The island in the northwest Persian Gulf near Iraq and Iran is home to the under-construction Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, a China-funded project that forms part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
According to the Associated Press and ABC News reporting, Kuwait provided no explanation for the delay in linking the May 1 incident to Iran. Iran did not immediately respond to the allegation. The accusation arrives as President Donald Trump prepares to travel to Beijing this week for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Iran is expected to feature in those talks.
Separately, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated at the Tel Aviv Conference on May 12, 2026, that Israel had sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to operate them to the United Arab Emirates during the war. "I'd like to say a word of appreciation for United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham accord member," Huckabee said.
"Just look at the benefits.
The disclosure marks the first publicly acknowledged deployment of Israeli military assets to the UAE. Huckabee's remarks followed a similar statement the previous night by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at an event at the Israeli mission to the UN. Neither the UAE nor Israel immediately responded to requests for comment.
In a related development, Bahraini prosecutors announced that at least two dozen people received prison sentences on charges including espionage and conspiring with Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Three received life terms while others got shorter sentences. Bahrain has issued dozens of such Iran-related convictions since the war began.
