Authorities in Kuwait Arrest 6 for Plotting to Attack U.S. Base

Whilst little detail is available at the moment both the BBC and NewsOK are reporting that those arrested have links to al-Qaeda. The former outlet further states that Al-Arabiya TV news has confirmed that the attack was due to take place on or around August 20, the date when the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins. In addition to the attack on the U.S. base, the statement released by the Kuwaiti authorities says that the six arrested have confessed to planning a separate attack on the headquarters of the country's internal security agency. Built to the south of the capital Kuwait City, Camp Arifjan also sees troops from U.S. allies such as the U.K, Australia, Poland and Romania passing through its gates. Its presence, and that of other Western interests and civilians in Kuwait, is strongly opposed by some within the country which sits on the Persian Gulf. A U.S. marine and a contractor have previously been killed in attacks similar to the one that has now been foiled. Classed as one of the richest countries in the world per capita, Kuwait has the world's fifth largest reserves of oil. It is a key Middle Eastern ally of the U.S. and it was the invasion of the country by Iraqi forces in 1990 which led to the First Gulf War. A constitutional monarchy, in recent years Kuwait has introduced the right to vote for women and elections held earlier this year saw 4 women elected to the country's parliament.