Maritime conflict in the Persian Gulf: Iraq and Kuwait amid regional tensions
A long-standing dispute over the strategic 'Khor Abdullah' shipping lane between Iraq and Kuwait has intensified. The situation escalated following the death of an Iraqi fisherman by Kuwaiti Coast Guard fire, triggering protests and the appearance of UAVs bearing 'revenge' slogans.
The conflict with Iran is not the only source of tension in the Persian Gulf. Kuwait and Iraq have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over their maritime borders, which has returned to the forefront in recent weeks following the death of an Iraqi fisherman by Kuwaiti fire.
The 'Khor Abdullah' waterway, located between the Iraqi Al-Faw Peninsula and the Kuwaiti islands of Warbah and Bubiyan, is of strategic importance to both nations. For Iraq, it is the primary shipping lane to the Umm Qasr port, while for Kuwait, it serves as a route to the developing Mubarak Al-Kabeer port.
Historical roots of the dispute
According to the Turkish 'Anadolu' agency, the roots of the disagreement date back to 1932. Following the first Gulf War, a UN Border Commission established geographical coordinates in 1993, defining 'Point 162' as a joint navigation zone. Although the countries signed an agreement in 2012 to regulate the waterway, Iraq filed a complaint with the UN Security Council in 2019, accusing Kuwait of unilaterally altering maritime boundaries.
In September 2023, the Supreme Court of Iraq ruled the law approving the agreement unconstitutional. In 2025, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and then-Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attempted to appeal this decision, but no progress was recorded.
Escalation and the fisherman incident
In February, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry protested Iraq's submission of new maritime maps to the UN. Tensions peaked in July when the Kuwaiti Coast Guard opened fire on an Iraqi fishing boat, killing Najm Abdullah. Despite the release of the detained fishermen, protests erupted in Iraq demanding accountability.
The incident coincided with regional instability caused by Iranian actions. On July 15, channels linked to pro-Iranian factions published images of UAVs that allegedly attacked targets in Kuwait, bearing the inscription: 'Revenge for the Iraqi fisherman Najm Abdullah'.
