Basra (IraqiNews.com) – Kuwait will reopen the Abdali border crossing with Iraq within the next 48 hours, Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah announced on Saturday, stressing that a recent drone attack on the facility will not disrupt passenger movement or bilateral trade.
The announcement came during Al-Sabah’s visit to Iraq’s southern Basra province, where he met Governor Asaad Al-Eidani to discuss border security, bilateral relations, and regional developments.
Speaking after arriving at the Safwan border crossing, Al-Sabah said the Abdali crossing would resume operations within two days, allowing the movement of travelers and commercial goods between Iraq and Kuwait.
“The Abdali border crossing will reopen to passenger and trade traffic within 48 hours,” he said, thanking Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani and describing relations between the two countries as rooted in brotherhood.
He emphasized that Kuwait and Iraq would not allow attempts to create division between the neighboring states.
“Whatever happens, we will remain neighbors and brothers,” Al-Sabah said. “We will not allow anyone seeking to spread discord between Iraq and Kuwait, and we will work to stop any attempts to fuel tensions from the very beginning.”
The Kuwaiti interior minister confirmed that authorities are still assessing the damage caused by the drone attack, which targeted the Abdali border crossing on Thursday.
However, he stressed that the repairs would not delay reopening the crossing. “The damage is being evaluated and will be repaired as quickly as possible,” he said. “This does not prevent the crossing from resuming operations. Traffic must continue.”
According to Al-Sabah, the crossing will be reopened in time to facilitate travel for Iraqi visitors and Kuwaiti pilgrims heading to Iraq during the Arbaeen pilgrimage season.
Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani welcomed the Kuwaiti delegation, describing the visit as a message of solidarity between the two countries. “Iraq, after the fall of the previous regime, should be a country of peace and friendship for all neighboring nations,” Al-Eidani said.
He acknowledged that both Iraq and Kuwait have been affected by wider regional instability despite not being direct participants in the ongoing conflict. “Sometimes mistakes happen because of irresponsible actions by individuals,” he added. “However, those incidents should not affect the strong relationship between our two countries.”
Al-Eidani also said the visit demonstrated the commitment of both governments to preserving regional stability and strengthening bilateral cooperation. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday that the Abdali border crossing had been targeted in a drone attack.
Officials said the incident caused only material damage, with no casualties reported. Specialized teams were immediately deployed to secure the site and remove drone debris.
An Iraqi security source also confirmed that explosions were heard on the Kuwaiti side of the border, while Iraq’s Safwan crossing in Basra remained unaffected and security conditions there were stable.
Following the attack, Kuwaiti authorities temporarily closed the Abdali crossing as a precaution. The latest developments come only weeks after tensions between the two countries following the fatal shooting of Iraqi fisherman Najm Abdullah by the Kuwaiti Coast Guard in early July.
Surviving fishermen later told local media that they were detained in Kuwait for six days and alleged they were subjected to mistreatment during interrogation before being released through Iraqi diplomatic efforts.
The incident prompted Iraq’s Basra Provincial Council to call for Abdullah to be officially recognized as a martyr and urged stronger measures to protect Iraqi fishermen operating in regional waters.
Despite those recent incidents, Saturday’s meeting between Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials underscored both governments’ commitment to maintaining strong bilateral relations and ensuring that security challenges do not disrupt cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
