List of wars involving Kuwait

This is a list of wars involving the State of Kuwait and its predecessor states.

Conflict Kuwait
and allies 		Opponents Results Kuwaiti losses Head of State
Military Civilians
Battle of Chains (629 or 633) (part of Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia) Rashidun Caliphate Sasanian Empire Rashidun Caliphate victory
Utbi Invasion of Bahrain
(1782–1783) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Zubarah 		Persia Victory
  • Naval attack by the Bushehri navy on Zubarah in 1782 fails.
  • Civil war starts in Bahrain after the attack on Zubarah.
  • Jidhafs win the civil war, however, by this time the Zubarans had just entered the country.
  • Zubarah gains control of Bahrain in 1783
~?
Abd Allah I
Battle of Al-Raqah[1]
(1783) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait Banu Kaab Victory
  • Kuwaiti victory over Banu Kaab.
~No Recorded Casualties
Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion
(1793) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Great Britain 		Emirate of Diriyah Victory
  • Saudi retreat from Kuwait.
~?
Battle of Khakeekera[2]
(1811) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Bahrain 		Emirate of Diriyah Victory
  • Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah's invasion of Bahrain repelled.
~1000 (Kuwait and Bahrain)
~
Sheikh Humoud's Revolt[3]
(1828) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Ottoman Empire 		Arab tribes Victory
  • Kuwaiti intervention in Basra leads to ceasefire with the Bani Kaab.
  • Sheikh Humoud imprisoned by Governor of Baghdad Dawud Pasha and replaced by his nephew Sheikh Aqeel as Emir of the Muntafiq tribal confederation.
~?
Jabir I
Siege of Basra[3]
(1831) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Arab tribes 		Ottoman Empire Victory
  • End of several week long siege of Basra by the allies of former Baghdad governor Dawud Pasha.
  • Arab demands met with the Re-installation of Aziz Agha as Mutasallim of Basra.
~?
Siege of Al-Zubair[4]
(1833) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
House of Al Thaqib
Arab tribes 		Zubair Victory
  • End of the seven-month-long siege of Zubair.
  • Restoration of the Al Thaqib family as the ruling house of Zubair.
  • Massacre of the House of Al Zuhair by the reinstated House of Al Thaqib; survivors find refuge in Kuwait and Ottoman Iraq.
~?
Invasion of Muhammara[5]
(1837) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Ottoman Empire 		Banu Kaab Victory
  • Capture and destruction of Muhammara (Khorramshahr) by Ali Rida Pasha, Governor of Baghdad.
  • Banu Kaab pays homage to the Ottomans rather than the Persians.
  • Kuwait wins alliance with the Ottoman Empire and becomes unrivaled in sharing with Basra the commercial prosperity in the northern region of the Gulf with the fall of Muhammara.
~?
Al-Hasa Expedition[6][7]
(1870–1871) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Ottoman Empire
Arab tribes 		Emirate of Nejd Victory
  • Al Hasa is reincorporated into the Ottoman Empire and becomes known as the Najd Sanjak.
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Sabah Al Sabah the ruler of Kuwait is granted the honorific title[8] of Kaymakam by the Ottomans for his contribution to the war effort.[9]
~?
Abd Allah II
Kuwaiti–Rashidi War
(1900-1901) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait Jabal Shammar Inconclusive
  • Kuwaiti Invasion of Najd repelled.
  • Jabal Shammar Counter-Invasion Fails
~1,200
~
Mubarak I
Battle of Jo-Laban[10][11]
(1903) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait Jabal Shammar Victory
~?
Battle of Hadia[12]
(1910) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
 Al-Muntafiq Victory
  • Kuwaiti-Saudi initial defeat at the Battle of Hadia.
  • Sheikh Mubarak sends another force which easily claims victory against the Al Muntafiq tribe.
~338
~
Mesopotamian Campaign[13][14][15]
(1914–1918) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait (1914)
British Empire 		Ottoman Empire
German Empire 		Victory

Kuwaiti Front:

  • Ottoman forces expelled from their positions in Umm Qasr, Safwan, and Bubiyan.
  • British public recognition of Kuwait as a protectorate proclaiming it to be an “independent government under British protection.[16]

British Front:

~?
Kuwait–Najd War
(1919–1920) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait Emirate of Nejd and Hasa Kuwaiti Military victory, Najdi Political Victory
~200
Salim I
Ikhwan Revolt
(1927–1930) 		Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Nejd and Hejaz
United Kingdom 		Ikhwan Victory
  • Ikhwan attack on Kuwait repelled.
  • The remnants of the Ikhwan incorporated into regular Saudi units.
  • The Ikhwan leadership was either slain or imprisoned.
~14[17]
~
Ahmad I
Operation Vantage
(1961-1963) 		Kuwait
United Kingdom
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
United Arab Republic
Sudan
 Iraq Mission success

.

~None
Abd Allah III
Al-Samita border skirmish
(1973) 		Kuwait Iraq Ceasefire
  • Pull back of Iraqi Armed Forces to the demarcation line set by the Arab League during Operation Vantage 1961.
  • Iraqi withdrawal from Al-Samita border post under Saudi pressure.[18]
~2
~
Sabah III
October War
(1973)
(part of the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Cold War)
Expeditionary forces
Saudi Arabia[19]
Algeria[20]
Jordan
Libya
Iraq
Kuwait[21]
Tunisia
Morocco[22]
Cuba
North Korea[23][24]
 Israel Defeat[25]
  • At the final ceasefire:
    • Egyptian forces held 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi) on the eastern bank of the canal.[26]
    • Israeli forces held 1,600 km2 (620 sq mi) on the western bank of the canal.[27]
    • Israeli forces held 500 km2 (193 sq mi) of the Syrian Bashan region of the Golan Heights.
42
~
Invasion of Kuwait
(1990)
(part of the Gulf War)

Kuwait

Iraq

Iraqi victory 420[28] ?
Gulf War
(1990–1991)
(part of the Arab Cold War)
Coalition:
  Iraq Coalition victory
~200
~1,000
Jabir III
Yemeni Civil War
(2015–present)
(part of the Yemeni civil war and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict) 		Saudi Arabia[30]
The Alliance
Supported by:
In support of:
    Revolutionary Committee/Supreme Political Council
Allies

Al-Qaeda

 Ongoing
~None
Sabah IV
Nawaf I
Mishal I
Direct Involvement in the Middle Eastern Crisis
(2026-present)

October 7 attacks:
Israel

Armed Israeli Citizens

Gaza War & West Bank Incursions:
Israel
Israeli-backed groups:

Defensive Only: Palestinian Authority

Intelligence support during April & October Iranian
strikes:
Due to strikes by Iraqi militias (until
2024):

2024 Kerman Bombings:
Islamic State
Defensive during Iranian Retaliatory Strikes:
Iraq
Ba'athist Syria

Prosperity Guardian (until
2024)

 Aspides (until 2024):
European Union
Independent Patrols (Red Sea Crisis):
China[62]
Egypt
India
Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Syrian Civil War (until 2024):
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
Southern Operations Room
Free Syrian Army
Syrian National Army
From 2024:

Syria

Twelve Day War:
United States Israel

Defensive
only:
2025-26 Iranian protests:
Political groups:
Separatist groups:
Labour, civil, and retiree groups:
  • Free Workers Union of Iran[84]
  • Iranian Writers Association[84]
  • Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations[84]
  • Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers Syndicate[84]
  • Coordination Committee to Help Form Independent Labour Organisations[84]
  • Khuzestan Retired Workers[84]
  • Union of Retirees Group[84]
  • Kurdish Women's Organisations[84]
  • Retirees Union[85]
  • Kermanshah Electricity and Metal Association[85]
  • "Stop Executions"[85]
  • "Justice Seekers"[85]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Contract Oil Workers[85]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Non-Formal Oil Workers[85]
  • Coordination Council of Nurses Protests[85]
  • "Neday-e Zanan-e Iran"[85]
  • World Iranian Christian Alliance[86]
Supported by:

2026 Iran War:

CPFIK (alleged and urged)

Attacked by Iran:
Defensive actions:

Anti-Iranian Protestors (outside Iran)

Iran

Ba'athist Syria (until 2024)
Axis of Resistance: Hamas
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement
Palestinian Freedom Movement
Popular Resistance Committees
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command

Hezbollah
Amal Movement[87]
Islamic Group[88]

Syrian Social Nationalist Party

Intelligence Support:

Russia

Syrian Civil War (until 2024):

Ba'athist Syria
Russia
From 2024:
Assadist insurgents

Defensive during Israeli invasion of Lebanon:

Lebanon
UN

Defensive stances on attacks by Israel and allies:

Lebanon
Yemen
Sri Lanka

Pro-Iranian protestors (outside Iran)

Ongoing:

  • 2026 Iran War: Ongoing[89][90][91][92]
    On 28 February 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, Iran began launching a series of retaliatory strikes on American and Kuwaiti targets within Kuwait.
4
[93][94]
4
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Notes

  1. ^ soldiers not yet deployed in 2016
  2. ^ logistic support and assistance with the naval blockade of Houthi-held territories in October 2016[44][45][46]
  3. ^ training, intelligence, logistical support, weapons, and blockade up to 2017[48][49][50][51]
  4. ^ The United Kingdom has also undertaken defensive deployments outside of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

References

  1. ^ ar:معركة الرقة
  2. ^ ar:معركة خكيكرة
  3. ^ a b Abu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "The Siege of Basra (1831)." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 79. Print.
  4. ^ Abu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "Kuwait and Al-Zubair." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 76-78. Print.
  5. ^ Abu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "Invasion of Muhammara (1837)." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 80. Print.
  6. ^ ar:عبد الله الثاني الصباح#cite note-2
  7. ^ Abu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "The Expedition Route, Midhat Pasha in Al-Hasa, Kuwait's Role in the Ottoman Expedition 1871–1873, Abd Allah's Direct Role in the War." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 85-89. Print.
  8. ^ Albaharna, Husain M (1968). The Legal Status of the Arabian Gulf States. ISBN 9780719003325. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  9. ^ Abu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "The Effects of Al-Hasa Expedition on Kuwait." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 89-90. Print.
  10. ^ "( 1903 ) -". Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  11. ^ "معركة جو لبن". Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  12. ^ ar:معركة هدية
  13. ^ Slot 2005, p. 406
  14. ^ Slot 2005, p. 407
  15. ^ Slot 2005, p. 409
  16. ^ Slot 2005 406"
  17. ^ "1928 -". Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  18. ^ Iraq–Kuwait relations
  19. ^ O'Ballance (1979), pp. 201.
  20. ^ Shazly (2003), p. 278.
  21. ^ Rabinovich (2004), pp. 464–465.
  22. ^ Mahjoub Tobji (2006). Les officiers de Sa Majesté: Les dérives des généraux marocains 1956–2006 (in French). Fayard. p. 107. ISBN 978-2-213-63015-1.
  23. ^ Shazly (2003), pp. 83–84.
  24. ^ Cenciotti, David. "Israeli F-4s Actually Fought North Korean MiGs During the Yom Kippur War". Business Insider.
  25. ^ *Herzog, The War of Atonement, Little, Brown and Company, 1975. Forward
  26. ^ Rabinovich (2004), p. 467.
  27. ^ Morris (2011), p. 437.
  28. ^ "Kuwaiti casualties". kkackm.
  29. ^ "Desert Shield And Desert Storm: A Chronology And Troop List for the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf Crisis" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  30. ^ Mazzetti, Mark and Kirkpatrick, David D. (25 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Begins Air Assault in Yemen". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h "Egypt, Jordan and Sudan ready for ground offensive in Yemen: report". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  32. ^ Nissenbaum, Dion. "UAE Moves to Extricate Itself From Saudi-Led War in Yemen". The Wall Street Journal.
  33. ^ Dorsey, James (6 July 2019). "UAE Withdraws from Yemen". LobeLog.
  34. ^ "Saudi Arabia's coalition against Yemen's Houthis". Reuters. 26 March 2015.
  35. ^ "Egypt extends participation in Yemen conflict". Reuters. 22 January 2017.
  36. ^ El Masaiti, Amira (7 February 2019). "Morocco re-evaluates role in Saudi-led Yemen war coalition". The Washington Times. Associated Press.
  37. ^ "Senegal to send 2,100 troops to join Saudi-led alliance". Reuters. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  38. ^ "Australian mercenary reportedly killed in Yemen clashes". The Guardian. 8 December 2015.
  39. ^ "Use of Mercenaries by the Saudi-led Coalition to Violate Human Rights in Yemen and Impede the Exercise of the Yemeni People's Right to Self-determination". Arabian Right Watch Association. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  40. ^ "Drawn by Saudi cash, Yemeni mercenaries are left high and dry". Middle East Eye.
  41. ^ Martinez, Luis (27 March 2015). "US Rescues 2 Saudi Pilots from Gulf of Aden". ABC News. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  42. ^ "Daily Press Briefing". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017.
  43. ^ Beauchamp, Zack (14 October 2016). "Why the hell is the US helping Saudi Arabia bomb Yemen? A brief guide". Vox.
  44. ^ Snyder, Stephen (14 October 2016). "US involvement in the Yemen war just got deeper". The World. PRI.
  45. ^ Kube, Courtney (27 October 2016). "U.S. Officials: Iran Supplying Weapons to Yemen's Houthi Rebels". NBC News.
  46. ^ "U.S. military strikes Yemen after missile attacks on U.S. Navy ship". Reuters. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  47. ^ "US special forces secretly deployed to assist Saudi Arabia in Yemen conflict". The Independent. 3 May 2018.
  48. ^ "British support of Saudi Arabian military should shame us all, says SNP MP". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  49. ^ "Yemen — and what it means for Pakistan". Daily Times. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  50. ^ Loveluck, Louisa (11 September 2015). "Britain 'fuelling war in Yemen' through arms sales, says charity". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015.
  51. ^ Borger, Julian (5 June 2015). "Saudi-led naval blockade leaves 20 m Yemenis facing humanitarian disaster". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  52. ^ "North Korea Likely Supplied Scud Missiles Fired at Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi Rebels". Vice News. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  53. ^ 예멘 반군, 사우디 공격한 미사일은 ‘북한제 스커드’ [The missiles that Yemeni rebels used to attack Saudi Arabia were 'North Korean–made Scuds']. New Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  54. ^ "Gulf Coalition Operations in Yemen (Part 1): The Ground War". Washington Institute.
  55. ^ "Iran giving Houthis 'significant' and 'lethal' support: US envoy". Al Jazeera. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  56. ^ "North Korea's Balancing Act in the Persian Gulf". HuffPost. 17 August 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015. North Korea's military support for Houthi rebels in Yemen is the latest manifestation of its support for anti-American forces.
  57. ^ "North Korea Likely Supplied Scud Missiles Fired at Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi Rebels". Vice News. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  58. ^ "Report: North Korea supplying missiles to Yemen rebels". UPI. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  59. ^ "The September 14 drone attack on Saudi oil fields: North Korea's potential role | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. September 30, 2019.
  60. ^ "Yemen conflict: Al-Qaeda joins coalition battle for Taiz". BBC News. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  61. ^ "Al-Qaeda Announces Holy War against Houthis". Yemen Post. 30 January 2011.
  62. ^ Brar, Aadil (22 February 2024). "China sends warships to the Middle East". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  63. ^ Allowed the use of airspace.
  64. ^ Cite error: The named reference Golkar-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  65. ^ Makoii, Akhtar (12 January 2026). "Armed protesters fight back against Iranian regime". The Telegraph.
  66. ^ "Iran supreme leader says will not yield as protests simmer and US threatens". Reuters. 3 January 2026.
  67. ^ Cite error: The named reference Reza Pahlavi-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  68. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iran International-2026i was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  69. ^ Teller, Neville (30 June 2025). "Is there a chance for regime change in Iran? – opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  70. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Shamim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  71. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jones-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  72. ^ Cite error: The named reference Karim-2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  73. ^ "Iran Braces for More Protests. Here's What to Know". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  74. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference Hengaw-2026c was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  75. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference Shafaq News-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  76. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sleiman-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  77. ^ Cite error: The named reference caliber.az-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  78. ^ Cite error: The named reference Deutsche Welle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  79. ^ Cite error: The named reference Institute for the Study of War-2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  80. ^ "Iranian Baloch group calls for protests and strikes across Iran". Iran International. 7 January 2026.
  81. ^ Cite error: The named reference IranUpdateJanuary11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  82. ^ "Iran is Cut off from Internet as Protests Calling for Regime Change Intensify". The New York Times. 8 January 2026.
  83. ^ "Iran's protests no longer speak language of reform [OPINION]". Azer News. 9 January 2026.
  84. ^ a b c d e f g h "Iranian Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Protests with Live Fire, Arbitrary Arrests, and Attacks on Hospitals". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 6 January 2026.
  85. ^ a b c d e f g h "Iranian labor, civil and retiree groups voice support for protests". Iran Insight. 4 January 2026.
  86. ^ "Iranian Christian alliance urges restraint as protests continue across Iran - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis". Premier Christian.
  87. ^ Dana Polak (6 October 2024). "Al-Abbas Force". Israel Alma.
  88. ^ "Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon after Gaza and Hezbollah War". 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  89. ^ An Iranian drone struck the Kuwait International Airport and the Ali Al Salem Air Base (which houses Italian forces)
  90. ^ An Iranian drone struck the US garrison at Camp Buehring in northeastern Kuwait. Another Iranian missile attack targeted a makeshift operation center in the civilian port of Kuwait. Six US soldiers were killed and others wounded
  91. ^ The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense reported that 67 Army servicemen were wounded by the current conflict.
  92. ^ The Interior Ministry of Kuwait reported the deaths of two Border guards during an incident at dawn, amid the hostilities with Iran.
  93. ^ "Kuwait says two navy soldiers killed". Reuters. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  94. ^ Two Kuwaiti border security personnel killed.

Bibliography

  • Slot, B.J. (2005). Mubarak Al-Sabah : Founder of Modern Kuwait 1896-1915. London: Arabian Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9544792-4-4.
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