This is a list of wars involving the State of Kuwait and its predecessor states.
Conflict Kuwaitand allies Opponents Results Kuwaiti losses Head of State Military CiviliansBattle of Chains (629 or 633) (part of Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia)Rashidun Caliphate Sasanian EmpireRashidun Caliphate victory Utbi Invasion of Bahrain(1782–1783) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Zubarah Persia Bushehr 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 Battle of Al-Raqah:ar:معركة الرقة(1783) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Banu Kaab Victory Kuwaiti victory over Banu Kaab. Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion(1793) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Great Britain British East India Company Emirate of Diriyah Victory Saudi retreat from Kuwait. Battle of Khakeekera:ar:معركة خكيكرة(1811) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Bahrain Emirate of Diriyah Dammam Victory Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah's invasion of Bahrain repelled. Sheikh Humoud's RevoltAbu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "The Siege of Basra (1831)." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 79. Print. (1828) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Ottoman Empire Baghdad Eyalet Arab tribes Al-Muntafiq Banu Kaab 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. Siege of Basra(1831) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Arab tribes Banu Kaab Al-Muntafiq Ottoman Empire Baghdad Eyalet 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-ZubairAbu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "Kuwait and Al-Zubair." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 76-78. Print.(1833) Sheikhdom of Kuwait House of Al Thaqib Arab tribes Al-Muntafiq 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 MuhammaraAbu-Hakima, Ahmad Mustafa. "Invasion of Muhammara (1837)." The Modern History of Kuwait, 1750–1965. London: Luzac &, 1983. 80. Print.(1837) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Ottoman Empire Baghdad Eyalet 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:ar:عبد الله الثاني الصباح#cite note-2Abu-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.(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 of Kaymakam by the Ottomans for his contribution to the war effort.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. Kuwaiti–Rashidi War(1900-1901) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Jabal Shammar Inconclusive Kuwaiti Invasion of Najd repelled. Jabal Shammar Counter-Invasion Fails Battle of Jo-Laban(1903) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Jabal Shammar Mutayr Victory Five thousand camels captured as booty. Beginning of Saudi-Rashidi War. Battle of Hadia:ar:معركة هدية(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. Mesopotamian Campaign (1914–1918) Sheikhdom of Kuwait (1914) British Empire Australia
New Zealand 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.Slot 2005 406"
British Front: Treaty of Sèvres Kuwait–Najd War(1919–1920) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Emirate of Nejd and Hasa Ikhwan Kuwaiti Military victory, Najdi Political Victory Uqair Protocol of 1922 Ikhwan Revolt(1927–1930) Sheikhdom of Kuwait Nejd and Hejaz United Kingdom RAF 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. Operation Vantage (1961-1963) Saudi Arabia Sudan Iraq Mission success The crisis ended after the military coup against Abdul Karim Qasim and his execution. Saudi Arabia forces were sent to Kuwait consisting of 1,281 Saudi soldiers. . 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.Iraq–Kuwait relations October War(1973)(part of the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Cold War) Defeat*Herzog, The War of Atonement, Little, Brown and Company, 1975. Forward Insight Team of the London Sunday Times, Yom Kippur War, Doubleday and Company, Inc, 1974, page 450 Luttwak and Horowitz, The Israeli Army. Cambridge, MA, Abt Books, 1983 Rabinovich, The Yom Kippur War, Schocken Books, 2004. Page 498 0-313-31302-4&lr=#v=onepage&q=&f=false Revisiting The Yom Kippur War, P.R. Kumaraswamy, pages 1–2 Johnson and Tierney, Failing To Win, Perception of Victory and Defeat in International Politics. Page 177 Charles Liebman, The Myth of Defeat: The Memory of the Yom Kippur war in Israeli Society Middle Eastern Studies, Vol 29, No. 3, July 1993. Published by Frank Cass, London. Page 411. At the final ceasefire: Egyptian forces held on the eastern bank of the canal. Israeli forces held on the western bank of the canal. Israeli forces held of the Syrian Bashan region of the Golan Heights. Invasion of Kuwait(1990)(part of the Gulf War) Iraq Iraqi victory UNSC Resolution 660 condemns invasion on 2 August UNSC Resolution 661 imposes international sanctions against Iraq and declares Kuwait's right to self-defence on 6 August UNSC Resolution 662 designates Iraqi occupation/annexation of Kuwait as illegal on 9 August UNSC Resolution 665 authorizes naval blockade against Iraq on 25 August Iraq establishes the "Republic of Kuwait" on 2 August and annexes it on 28 August Northern Kuwait becomes the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District within Iraq's Basra Governorate Southern Kuwait becomes Iraq's Kuwait Governorate420? Gulf War(1990–1991)(part of the Arab Cold War) Coalition victory State of Kuwait resumes self-governance over all Kuwaiti sovereign territory Establishment of a demilitarized zone and construction of a separation barrier along the Iraq–Kuwait border Yemeni Civil War(2015–present)(part of the Yemeni civil war and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict) Saudi Arabia Revolutionary Committee/Supreme Political Council Houthi militants Yemen Army(pro-Saleh and Houthis) Yemeni Republican Guard (2015–17)
Al-Qaeda AQAP Ongoing Nawaf I Mishal I Direct Involvement in the Middle Eastern Crisis (2026-present) 2026 Iranian strikes on Kuwait October 7 attacks:
Armed Israeli Citizens Gaza War & West Bank Incursions:
Israeli-backed groups:
Fatah-affiliated groups Defensive Only:
Intelligence support during April & October Iranian Due to strikes by Iraqi militias (until 2024 Kerman Bombings:
Defensive during Iranian Retaliatory Strikes:
Jaysh al-Adl
Prosperity Guardian (until Aspides (until 2024):
Independent Patrols (Red Sea Crisis):
Syrian Civil War (until 2024):
Southern Operations Room Free Syrian Army Syrian National Army From 2024:
Twelve Day War:
Defensive 2025-26 Iranian protests: Iranian opposition Anti-government demonstrators Student demonstrators Police and military defectors Armed civilians
2026 Iran War:
Anti-Iranian Protestors (outside Iran) (until 2024) Axis of Resistance:
Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Palestinian Mujahideen Movement Palestinian Freedom Movement
Houthi Yemen
Amal Movement Islamic Group Syrian Social Nationalist Party Intelligence Support:
Syrian Civil War (until 2024): From 2024: Assadist insurgents Defensive during Israeli invasion of Lebanon:
Defensive stances on attacks by Israel and allies:
Pro-Iranian protestors (outside Iran)Ongoing: 2026 Iran War: OngoingAn Iranian drone struck the Kuwait International Airport and the Ali Al Salem Air Base (which houses Italian forces)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 woundedThe Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense reported that 67 Army servicemen were wounded by the current conflict.The Interior Ministry of Kuwait reported the deaths of two Border guards during an incident at dawn, amid the hostilities with Iran.On 28 February 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, Iran began launching a series of retaliatory strikes on American and Kuwaiti targets within Kuwait. Two Kuwaiti border security personnel killed. Notes
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