Quran Kisses, Emotional Goodbyes As Iran Heads To World Cup Under Shadow Of War; US Visa Row Deepens

Kuwait on Saturday claimed it intercepted a staggering seven Iranian Emad ballistic missiles over its skies, the second major attack days after the Gulf nation's main airport was attacked by drones fired by Tehran. According to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence, air defense forces detected and destroyed the incoming missiles over residential areas early Saturday, with debris causing material damage but no reported casualties. As Kuwait shares a border with Iran, questions have arisen why did Tehran used a long-range ballistic missile to target its neighbour. Experts have claimed that Iran is burning through its missile inventory faster than expected, and mixing in whatever was available in its stockpile. Another theory doing rounds is that Tehran wants both Israel and the United States to see Emad missiles in active rotation, and that it keeps its Fateh and Zolfaghar missile stockpiles "clean" for potential use elsewhere. The latest incident comes just days after a deadly drone strike damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport, killing one person and injuring dozens. Iran had denied responsibility for the earlier airport strike, claiming the damage was caused by a failed interceptor missile, an assertion rejected by U.S. Central Command. The latest exchange has further raised concerns that escalating hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Gulf states could trigger a broader regional war.