Kuwait City, Kuwait – Three overseas Filipino workers were among 60 people injured when a drone struck Kuwait International Airport on June 3. The incident caused visible structural damage and sent a thick cloud of dust through the terminal, as seen in CCTV footage that circulated after the attack.
According to a news report, the drone was allegedly of Iranian origin – though Iran denied involvement, claiming that misfired U.S. interceptor missiles were responsible for the blast.
What Happened to the Three OFWs
The Department of Migrant Workers confirmed the condition of all three affected workers:
- Two were treated for smoke inhalation and released as outpatients
- One suffered hand and head injuries that required stitches and was hospitalized briefly before being discharged
- All three have since been visited by staff from the Migrant Workers Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
None of the three remain hospitalized as of the latest update.
DMW’s Statement and What They’re Doing
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that all three workers have recovered enough to be released, and that the agency is now working on repatriation arrangements. One of the affected workers has a young child in Kuwait, which the DMW said is being factored into the process.
“All three have been visited by our Migrant Workers Office and the OWWA,” Cacdac said. “One of them was hospitalized but has been released, and two received outpatient treatments and were also released from the hospital and are recovering.”
Cacdac added that the DMW is closely monitoring the situation as it continues to develop.
Advisory to OFWs in Kuwait
The DMW has urged all Filipinos in Kuwait to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. With Kuwaiti airspace running on limited operations, the agency is also advising workers scheduled to return home to take extra precautions.
The Bigger Picture
The airport strike did not happen in isolation. Hours before, U.S. forces reportedly launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian radar sites. Iran then fired seven ballistic missiles at U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The U.S. military said those strikes caused no damage.
More than 10 Filipinos have already been repatriated by the Philippine government since regional tensions began to escalate between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance.