Kuwait raises security alert around oil installments in territorial waters

Kuwait has increased security measures near oil installations and territorial waters amid rising tension between the United States and Iran in the Gulf region, local media said.

The new measures came after the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, called on the country’s armed forces to take the highest level of caution amid the “dangerous developments” taking place in the region.

Kuwait’s Al-Qabas newspaper on Tuesday reported unnamed sources saying that the General Directorate of the Kuwaiti Coast Guard is working at full capacity to protect Kuwaiti territorial waters from any breaches.

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Since the start of the US blockade on Iran, the Kuwaiti Coast Guards have taken several precautionary measures and deployed patrols to deal “firmly and forcefully with any boat that attempts to enter Kuwaiti territorial waters”, the paper said.

According to the paper, the National Guard forces have raised the level of preparedness especially around the oil installations.

Meanwhile, Al-Rai newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that oil tankers have increased their readiness to maximum security level amid the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region.

The source explained that CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Hashem Hashem, stressed on the need for constant vigilance and the importance of securing the oil tankers.