By Ahmad Boukaheel 

KUWAIT: At the break of dawn on August 2, 1990, Ghanima Al-Haroun’s life was upended by a knock on the door. It was the tenant living in their house, bringing urgent news. “The Iraqis have entered Kuwait,” said the Yemeni man who worked at Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Thirty-five years later, the memory of that moment is still etched in her mind. “My sister came over, and we went to our family home in Al-Dhahiya,” she recalled. Their mother and children were abroad in Switzerland at the time, and after the invasion was announced, they rerouted to Bahrain — a safer Gulf state.

Like many Kuwaitis during that time, Al-Haroun and her family communicated in code. “We spoke in riddles on the phone because the Iraqis were monitoring the lines,” she said. “We’d say things like: Take the sabour (fish) out of the house and roast it in the baker’s oven — meaning: Evacuate the children.”

She remembers when one day soldiers stormed the house, vandalizing it and stealing supplies. “They were looking for phones or anything that could help Kuwaitis communicate. We used to hide them under the couches,” she said.

Every evening at sunset, the family sat on the staircase to recite Surah Al-Zalzalah, praying that “God would shake the ground beneath the occupiers.”

Fear at gunpoint

Ali Abdulaziz Bukhail woke up one day to see a vacant piece of land in front of his home turned into an anti-aircraft installation. He also remembers how bodies of abducted and murdered Kuwaitis were ruthlessly dumped there. But his most harrowing memory came during a routine drive with his seven-year-old daughter, Dalal. Iraqi soldiers stopped their car at a checkpoint. “They pulled us out. One soldier grabbed my daughter’s hands and cuffed her,” he said.

He watched helplessly as the soldier pointed a gun at Dalal’s head, demanding to know if Bukhail possessed any photos of Sheikh Jaber or the Kuwaiti flag — symbols the occupiers were determined to erase. “They tore the car seats, ripped out the panels, searched everything,” he said. When they found nothing, the soldier finally shoved Dalal back into the car and said, “Drive.”

Bukhail remembers his shock, especially because his family had frequently visited Iraq. Dalal trembled in fear but didn’t cry — she was stunned. “I didn’t think they would be so brutal because they are Arab, just like us,” said her father.

The soldiers would also threaten people who tried to get food rations (tamween). Al-Haroun recalled how surprised she was when an Iraqi soldier confronted her during a routine ration pickup. “What are you doing here?” she remembered him saying. Alarmed that she could be killed, fellow Kuwaitis stepped in to protect her. Bukhail said Iraqi soldiers often demanded something at every checkpoint — cigarettes, fruit, anything.

‘Only bones returned’

Dr. Waleed Al-Saif, a historian, described to Kuwait Times how many Kuwaitis who were abroad when Iraq invaded returned to join the underground resistance. After leaving their vacation destinations for Saudi Arabia and disguising themselves in Gulf clothes, some entered Kuwait and formed a group called “Yousef Al-Meshari.”

The group included figures like Yousef Al-Meshari, Abdulwahab Al-Muzain, Yaqoub Al-Sajjari, Saffah Al-Mulla, Abdullah Al-Jiaran, and Abdulsalam Al-Sumait. But betrayal was never far.

A man informed the Iraqis that there were young men in a safehouse in Al-Nuzha. “The group was arrested, interrogated at Al-Nuzha police station, then sent to Nayef Palace, which had become a notorious detention center, then to Iraq. “There, they faced brutal torture — beatings, nail removal, floggings,” said Al-Saif. “Some never made it back. Only their bones returned.”

Over 600 prisoners

The wife of a commando brigade commander, Diaa Rashed, left behind with her young children and nephew when her husband was called into duty, recalls the chaos and fear that swept the country. “That day was the beginning of months of terror but faith in Almighty Allah gave me strength,” she wrote in her diary, which she shared with Kuwait Times. “We gathered as a family and held each other up until liberation. Unity was our greatest weapon.”

Lt Col Ahmad Saad Al-Munifi received a call from command on the first day of the invasion to activate Kuwait’s emergency deployment plan. “At 12:00 am, we began defending oil facilities. By morning, we tried sending forces to Al-Mutlaa, but the Iraqis were already there.”

After fierce clashes, Al-Munifi and over 600 others — officers, soldiers, and civilians — were captured and taken to Basra prison, then transferred to Al-Rasheed Camp in Baghdad.

“The conditions were catastrophic,” he said. “We were in shock that Kuwait had actually fallen.” In mid-November 1990, they were moved to Ba’aqouba prison in Baghdad, which Al-Munifi described as abandoned.

The Kuwaiti prisoners organized themselves in captivity to maintain morale and discipline. Cooks and doctors took on roles to care for others. “We rebuilt the prison after it was rundown,” he said. Families were allowed to visit the prisoners, bringing clothes and money — until the air campaign of Operation Desert Storm began. “It was like a dream,” he said. “Since August 2, we knew what was happening in the world through the radio, but we hadn’t heard anything about our families.”

After liberation, the Red Crescent facilitated their return by bus convoys. Al-Munifi reached Kuwait on March 28, 1991. “The moment we crossed back into Kuwait was unforgettable. It was black everywhere, but we were in high spirits,” he said. “Kuwaitis love their land and have always rallied behind their leadership.”

Never forget

Resistance was not just carried out with weapons. Al-Haroun recalled how her brothers supported their neighborhood by delivering water to homes and extending electricity to places like power stations and food outlets.

“We didn’t expect the war to end in seven months,” she said. “We heard ululations and takbeerat from the mosques, and that’s how we learned Kuwait was free.”

As Kuwait commemorates the 35th anniversary of the invasion, survivors are urging younger generations not to forget. “This country is a gift,” said Al-Munifi. “In times of crisis, unity and love for the homeland are what carry you through.”

Al-Saif’s message to today’s youth is simple: “Hold on to your homeland and be grateful. It’s a blessing beyond measure.”

KUWAIT: As Kuwait marks the 35th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion, key national institutions are remembering the resilience and dedication of their staff during one of the country’s darkest chapters. The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) reflected on its humanitarian response during the invasion, calling it a “unique model in crisis response.”

KRCS Secretary-General Dr Fahad Al-Mandeel told KUNA on Friday that despite extremely limited resources, the society continued to support Kuwaiti citizens thanks to backing from the political leadership and cooperation with Gulf and international humanitarian organizations. “The government’s support at home and abroad, and coordination with international and Gulf entities, allowed the society to carry on its mission under occupation,” he said.

KRCS temporarily relocated its headquarters to Bahrain, where it trained 250 volunteers to deliver aid to hospitals like Mubarak Al-Kabeer and to refugee camps in areas such as Al-Abdali. Volunteers also worked in bakeries, hospitals, and in transporting the wounded.

Al-Mandeel emphasized the courage shown by the society’s volunteers, who operated under surveillance, with limited communication, and despite the detention of some board members. “Our work during the invasion revealed unprecedented bravery,” he said. The society also documented human rights violations and helped relay the suffering of the Kuwaiti people to the international community through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Reflecting on the invasion’s legacy, Al-Mandeel said the experience shaped Kuwait’s humanitarian sector. “The invasion marked a turning point in Kuwait’s relief efforts, strengthening volunteerism and creating a more effective response model that still defines our work today.” “What the society accomplished during that time remains a shining chapter in Kuwait’s history of dignity and humanitarian commitment,” he added.

Documenting violations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Saturday that it played a crucial national role in protecting airport infrastructure and documenting violations committed during the occupation. “We recall with pain and sorrow those difficult moments our country endured, and the blatant assault on its sovereignty, security, and stability,” the DGCA said in a statement to KUNA.

The authority said its personnel took the initiative to preserve airport facilities and record the damages inflicted by the invading forces. “Employees of Civil Aviation documented the violations and crimes that targeted airport facilities, including the destruction of key buildings, equipment, and systems,” the statement read, noting that the evidence helped Kuwait later present undeniable proof of these attacks.

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) has kicked off this year’s “My Right Start” campaign with a dedicated booth at The Avenues Mall, offering in-person guidance for high school graduates applying to the institute for the 2025/2026 academic year. The booth will be open daily from 10 am to 10 pm until August 7 and aims to answer questions about admissions and post-graduation job placement, in coordination with various government entities.

“This is an annual guidance campaign targeting recent high school graduates interested in joining PAAET’s colleges and institutes,” said Dr Hassan Al-Fajjam, Director General of the Authority. He added, “For this academic year, applications are open for five colleges and five institutes offering nearly 60 specializations aligned with labor market needs.”

But this year’s campaign comes with a number of changes. According to Dr. Fawzi Al-Doukhi, Dean of Admissions and Registration, admission for the 2025/2026 academic year is limited to Kuwaiti nationals only. Applications will be accepted from August 5 to August 18.

Al-Doukhi announced a major addition to the academic offerings: a new four-year Bachelor’s degree in Fire Engineering Technology in collaboration with the General Fire Force. “Graduates will be appointed directly as engineering officers in the force,” he said. The admission process has also been updated with stricter requirements and new procedures. “All admitted students must confirm their acceptance online. Failure to do so within the deadline will result in cancellation,” Al-Doukhi explained. A retraction after confirmation will also incur a KD 20 fee.

In another key change, applicants to medical programs—including nursing and health sciences—must now submit a certificate proving they are free of specific infectious diseases. “Students accepted into these specializations must collect a health clearance form from PAAET’s main building in Adailiya, have it stamped, and then undergo testing at the Ministry of Health. The approved certificate must be submitted during interviews at the respective colleges,” Al-Doukhi said. He urged applicants to visit the Admissions and Registration webpage on PAAET’s official website to review the available majors, admission thresholds, and specific requirements for each field. — KUNA