The U.S. Air Force said Saturday it was the subject of a “propaganda attack” by a previously unheard-of Iraqi militant group that falsely claimed it had launched a drone attack targeting American troops at an air base in Kuwait. The statement by the Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing came hours after the group calling itself Al-Waretheen, or “The Inheritors," put out an online statement claiming that on Aug. 12, it targeted Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base. The statement included a video showing a drone being launched from a stand, but offered no evidence of an attack or any damage done at the base. The statement claimed the alleged attack aimed to avenge the U.S. drone strike that killed a prominent Iranian Revolution Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in January 2020. Read: Ex-premier’s graft case a test of justice in oil-rich Kuwait The air base is located a few dozen kilometers (miles) from the Iraqi border. “The misinformation falsely stated an Iranian militia group used (drones) to carry out an attack on base,” the Air Force statement to The Associated Press said. “No such attack occurred.” The statement suggests the U.S. believes that Al-Waretheen is likely an Iranian group, though it described itself as Iraqi. The Air Force added that the online claim “only aims to deceive their audience in believing a lie" and that the Air Force and Kuwait “continue to project air power throughout the region without disruption.” Kuwait, a small, oil-rich nation bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia also near Iran, is considered a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Kuwait and the U.S. have had a close military partnership since America launched the 1991 Gulf War to expel Iraqi troops after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded the country. Some 13,500 American troops are stationed in Kuwait, which also hosts U.S. Army Central’s forward headquarters. Those forces have supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and later operations against the Islamic State group. Kuwait did not immediately acknowledge the claimed attack. Its Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday night. Kuwait’s Al-Qabas newspaper, quoting anonymous “responsible” sources, called the claims about an attack “completely untrue.” Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP since Aug. 12 show no apparent damage at the base. A series of militant groups that analysts believe have ties back to Iran have claimed attacks they say targeted U.S. troops in Iraq over recent years. However, those roadside bombings targeted Iraqi contractors supplying American forces in the country. The claim also comes as what have been described as the final round of negotiations continue between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

Sate Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said Kuwait can recruit more medical professionals including nurses, medical technicians from Bangladesh. He discussed the issue when outgoing Ambassador of Kuwait to Bangladesh Adel Mohammed AH Hayat met him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also read:Bangladeshi students in Hungary urged to contribute to Bangladesh’s dev The Ambassador said Bangladesh has achieved tremendous development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The envoy thanked the State Minister for his support during his tenure in Bangladesh. Shahriar Alam appreciated the Ambassador for his sincere efforts for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Kuwait in manpower, trade, defense, energy and development projects. Also read:Bangladesh’s role sought to save SAARC from existing difficulties The Ambassador highlighted that Bangladesh and Kuwait enjoys excellent relations in bilateral and multilateral forum. He expressed that in coming days the relation will be more strengthened for mutual benefit of Bangladesh and Kuwait.

Bangladesh and Kuwait will chart out a comprehensive roadmap together in the next five years to boost bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including setting up an oil refinery. The decision came from a bilateral meeting held between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at a press briefing in New York. “The Kuwaiti Prime Minister thinks that Kuwait and Bangladesh should together prepare a roadmap and design actionable programmes in the next five years so that our relations are strengthened further,” he said.  Read: Hasina woos US investors; offers attractive facilities He said the foreign ministers of the two countries will sit in a meeting to chart out the roadmap. “We’ll work out the details.”  Noting that five big projects are now being implemented with finance from Kuwait fund, he said Bangladesh wants more and Kuwait is also keen for more projects.  “Kuwait wants to undertake different projects…. They’ve taken the initiative to establish an oil refinery in Bangladesh. Our Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) said we’ll surely provide them land for the refinery. We’ll be happy if they set up a refinery in our country,” said Dr Momen. He said a preliminary proposal came from Kuwait to set up a refinery and it will now be more solidified. “It was a very fruitful meeting. Because, this will give us a big push for developing a solid relationship with Bangladesh and Kuwait,” he said, adding that an excellent relation is now prevailing between the two countries. Some 20,000 Bangladeshi troops worked as peacekeepers in Kuwait since the gulf war.  Kuwait is grateful to Bangladesh forever due to its support during the Gulf War. Read: Act quickly to stop rollback of women’s progress: Hasina In this context, State Minister M Shahriar Alam, who was present at the briefing, said there is a contingent named “Bangladesh Contingent” in the Kuwait Army. Still, there are Bangladeshi soldiers in Kuwait to certify their lands as landmine-free areas following further inspection. Recollecting the role of Bangladesh Army, Kuwait Prime Minister said they were grateful to the Bangladesh government.   Earlier in the morning, Hasina joined a reception at the UNHQ where heads of state or government were present and then the opening session of the UNGA general debate began. In the beginning of the high-level general debate, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of 76th UNGA Abdulla Shahid (of the Maldives) and Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro delivered their speeches as per the tradition. Then US President Joe Biden delivered his speech in the general debate. Later, Hasina had a bilateral meeting with her Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven at the bilateral meeting booth of the UN Headquarters.  Read: Hasina seeks SDGs roadmap for countries falling behind Since Stefan Lofven is a very famous name for labour rights, Hasina told him that Bangladesh made a tremendous development in the labour sector.  She said not a single RMG worker was terminated during the Covid-19 pandemic as the government announced stimulus packages for the RMG factory owners. Among the world's top 10 environment-friendly factories, seven industrial units are in Bangladesh, she added.  Hasina asked the Swedish Prime Minister to raise the progress of Bangladesh in labour rights internationally.

Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah has proposed Bangladesh forming a Joint Committee at Foreign Ministers level to take forward the relations through joint efforts.  He also sought Bangladesh’s assistance and cooperation in strengthening health institutions, food security, education, IT and cyber security.  Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a meeting with the Kuwait Foreign Minister on the sidelines of international conference titled “Central and South Asia: Regional connectivity, Challenges and opportunities” held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan recently and discussed the issues.  Also read: FM for joint efforts to boost connectivity among countries in Central, South Asia Dr Momen expressed his gratitude to the Kuwait Government for supporting resolution on Human Right Commission to repatriate Rohingas to Myanmar. He also proposed  assisting  Bangladesh under Kuwait Development Fund, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. 

The government has recently received the copy of a 61-page verdict of Bangladeshi MP Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul’s conviction in Kuwait in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering.

Kuwait began voting Saturday for its National Assembly, the first election since the death of its longtime ruling emir at a time the oil-rich nation struggles with serious economic problems during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bangladesh has requested Kuwait to resume flights between the two countries as quickly as possible so that the Bangladeshi expatriates who got stuck here can return to their workplaces smoothly.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen leaves here on Sunday morning for oil-rich country Kuwait carrying a special message from Bangladesh.

Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, has died on Tuesday. He was 91.

A Bangladeshi national died at a government hospital in Kuwait on Friday.