KUWAIT: As regional tensions continue to escalate following the Zionist entity’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, Kuwait Fire Force confirmed on Monday its full operational readiness and the deployment of advanced detection and emergency response technologies to protect public safety. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Ghareeb, Director of Public Relations and Media at the Fire Force, said all land, marine and airport fire stations are fully equipped and on alert to handle any emergency.

“The force maintains a state of continuous readiness 24/7 throughout the year to receive and respond immediately to all emergency calls — whether serious or minor — via the emergency number 112,” Al-Ghareeb said, noting that swift response times are guaranteed through this system.

The announcement comes amid heightened fears over regional fallout, four days into the ongoing strikes between Iran and the Zionist entity. Zionist airstrikes on Friday targeted Iran’s Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks. While no radiation leaks have been detected, the IAEA and international experts have raised concerns about potential environmental and safety risks, especially if sensitive facilities like Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant were to be hit.

Kuwait has been steadily reinforcing its emergency infrastructure across multiple sectors, including health, water, defense and environmental monitoring. The Fire Force now joins that effort with a detailed update on its capabilities. Al-Ghareeb explained that the Fire Force is supported by a fleet of modern vehicles and technologies, including a high-tech reconnaissance vehicle capable of detecting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards, as well as remotely identifying gases and radioactive substances. “The vehicle includes an internal lab for analyzing gases and liquids and can collect and process samples on-site,” he said, adding that this enables rapid threat identification and efficient response.

The Fire Force is also equipped with specialized protective suits that allow personnel to safely handle various hazardous substances, along with a robotic reconnaissance device used in high-risk or hard-to-reach areas. An advanced weather monitoring system is used to assess environmental conditions at incident sites to support real-time decisions. “These technologies enhance our ability to act quickly and safely in a range of emergency scenarios,” Al-Ghareeb said. He urged the public to cooperate by promptly reporting any emergency through the 112 hotline, adding: “Every report is treated seriously, regardless of the level of danger.” — Agencies

By Faten Omar & B Izzak

KUWAIT: Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Totonji praised the Kuwaiti leadership, led by HH the Amir, for its “balanced and constructive” stance in condemning the Zionist attacks on residential areas in Iran. Speaking at a press conference at the Iranian Embassy on Monday, Totonji reassured that Kuwaiti nationals in Iran are safe and that their return is proceeding smoothly via land borders, in coordination with Kuwaiti and Iraqi authorities.

The ambassador strongly condemned the Zionist attacks, calling them a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and an “outright declaration of war”. He held the United States fully responsible, accusing it of backing the Zionist entity’s illegitimate and dangerous aggression. Totonji reiterated that Iran was not the aggressor but a victim of a premeditated assault amid ongoing diplomatic efforts related to its nuclear program.

He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to good-neighborly relations, particularly with Gulf states, and emphasized Iran’s respect for Kuwait’s position. “Iran remains open to dialogue and cooperation and will defend its sovereignty by all means if forced into confrontation,” he said, concluding, “Iran will not collapse or surrender — standing with Iran is not just political, it is a moral stance.”

Image posted on social media ashows contrails of ballistic missiles seen in Kuwait’s skies early June 16, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti army said on Monday that the ballistic missiles seen in Kuwait’s skies were at high altitudes and outside the country’s airspace. The army’s general staff also stressed that the missiles did not pose any threat to Kuwait and the population. Pictures posted on social media showed ballistic missiles, believed to be Iranian, clearly visible from Kuwait as the war between the Zionist entity and neighboring Iran rages.

Kuwait National Guard also denied conducting any operations in Kuwait’s skies, indicating that its forces are executing their duties in defense, security and supporting state bodies in cooperation with the ministries of defense and interior.

Ministries and government departments continued to review their contingency plans amid an intensification in the armed conflict.

Kuwait Fire Force said it is well prepared for the current situation and its teams are ready to deal with any emergency after the outbreak of armed hostilities in the region. Director of Public Relations Brig Mohammad Al-Ghareeb called on the public on Monday to call the department on 112 in case of any emergency to ensure swift action. He added the department has advanced systems capable of detecting and dealing with toxic chemical, biological and nuclear materials in addition to radiation and gas.

The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources on Monday hosted a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council officials to discuss food security amid the regional conflict. The meeting also discussed achieving self-sufficiency in food for the six member states. Minister of Electricity and Water Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem on Monday held a meeting with senior officials from the health ministry and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to discuss readiness to deal with any environmental consequences of the regional conflict.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on Monday launched a regional meeting focused on combating animal and zoonotic diseases in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The four-day event will address several priority diseases in the region, including brucellosis, Rift Valley fever, foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants (PPR).

Dr Abdulaziz Al-Ateeqi, the meeting’s regional coordinator at KISR, told KUNA that the event aims to enhance cooperation and coordination among GCC member states while promoting the exchange of expertise on modern technologies for the rapid and accurate detection of animal diseases.

Al-Ateeqi noted that some of these diseases impact public health, while others directly threaten food security – making regional coordination essential. He added that the meeting is held under the “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to build a comprehensive system for the prevention and management of animal and zoonotic diseases in the region.

Participants aim to strengthen collaboration in key areas such as technical capacity building, the development of veterinary laboratory networks, utilization of reference laboratories and collaborative centers and improved information sharing and scientific research.

Carla Bravo de Rueda, Animal Health Technical Officer at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, told KUNA that enhancing regional cooperation and veterinary laboratory networks is vital for improving joint response capacities to transboundary and zoonotic diseases. She noted that the Kuwait meeting provides an opportunity to reinforce collective efforts and explore the development of a future veterinary laboratory network – drawing inspiration from models such as CamVetNet, coordinated by the UAE under the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

De Rueda pointed to successful initiatives such as the US veterinary lab networks, which were established to control disease outbreaks through rapid emergency cooperation and harmonized operational protocols. She affirmed the IAEA’s willingness to support these efforts but emphasized that success hinges on local commitment from member countries – whether by expanding CamVetNet to include more diseases or by launching new networks focused on regionally significant animal health threats.

Suggested areas for collaboration include proficiency testing, broader use of global reference laboratories and collaborative centers (such as those in the UAE) and mobilizing national expertise to enhance regional cooperation in animal disease prevention and response. — KUNA

Dr Mohamed Alhosani, WOAH’s Subregional Representative for the Gulf, told KUNA that the meeting serves as an important scientific platform to foster cooperation and capacity-building in animal health across the region. He said the event brings together representatives from GCC countries and international organizations, including the IAEA, WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The primary goal, he noted, is to support member states in building technical capacities and developing national systems to manage animal and zoonotic diseases. Alhosani praised the contributions of international organizations for providing critical technical and advisory support and thanked the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research for organizing and hosting the meeting. He expressed hope that the outcomes would strengthen regional health security and bolster effective animal health prevention and response efforts. – KUNA