An Iranian ballistic missile struck the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, injuring five American military personnel and destroying two MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to a Bloomberg report citing an informed source. The strike, which occurred around May 30, represents the latest flashpoint in a conflict that has been grinding on since late February and has already sent shockwaves through crypto markets.
Kuwaiti air defenses reportedly intercepted the incoming Fateh-110 missile, but falling debris from the interception still caused damage at the base. Each of the destroyed MQ-9 Reaper drones carries an approximate price tag of $30 million, putting the hardware losses alone at roughly $60 million before factoring in base infrastructure damage.
A pattern of escalation at a strategic chokepoint
This is not the first time Ali Al Salem has been in the crosshairs. A drone strike on the same facility back in early April injured 15 US personnel, a significantly larger casualty count that ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Tehran at the time. The base sits near the Iraqi border, making it a strategically attractive target for Iranian forces operating in the region.
US Central Command has characterized these Iranian strikes as violations of what it calls a fragile ceasefire. That ceasefire, such as it is, has been punctuated by a prolonged exchange of drone and missile attacks targeting US installations across the region.
