Kuwait places hospitals on terror list, raising risk of crisis with Lebanon

BEIRUT/KUWAIT CITY – Kuwaiti media reported on Sunday that the Gulf state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has added eight major Lebanese hospitals to its national anti-terrorism list, marking the first time healthcare institutions have been included. The move has sent shockwaves through Lebanese official circles, prompting the Ministry of Health in Beirut to launch urgent inquiries amid widespread bewilderment.

Observers say the development points to a quiet rift between the two countries, a situation some view as dramatic and unexpected, while others consider it a routine preventive measure by Kuwait, which has a history of stringent anti-terrorism protocols.

According to Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas, the inclusion of these hospitals comes as part of an update to the country’s anti-terrorism sanctions list, raising the total number of individuals and entities subject to penalties to 150.

The facilities named include Rasoul Al-Azam Hospital in Beirut, Saint George Hospital in Hadath, Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Nabatieh, and the hospitals of Salah Ghandour, Al-Amal, Dar Al-Hikma, Al-Betoul and Al-Shifa.

While Kuwait has not issued a detailed official explanation, political analysts suggest the designation reflects the geographic influence of Hezbollah or its institutional connections. Kuwait, along with several Gulf states, classifies Hezbollah as a “terrorist organisation.”

The Lebanese Ministry of Health responded swiftly, issuing a statement that conveyed a tone of “fraternal reproach,” stressing that no prior official notification had been received. The ministry described the decision as “a precedent that is inconsistent with Kuwait’s historical approach,” which has traditionally supported Lebanon’s healthcare system and fostered dialogue.

Lebanese authorities emphasised that these hospitals are legally registered with the Association of Private Hospitals and operate under Lebanese law. They are humanitarian institutions providing medical services to all citizens without discrimination, and are critical to a health system already weakened by successive economic crises. The statement also noted Kuwait’s longstanding support for Lebanese health projects, underscoring the surprising and sensitive nature of the decision.

Observers warn that the sanctions could amount to “indirect penalties” on the Lebanese healthcare sector, potentially hindering access to imported medical equipment, blocking foreign financial transfers, or restricting collaboration with international organisations.

In an effort to contain the fallout, the Ministry of Health announced plans to hold high-level discussions with Kuwaiti authorities to clarify the facts and prevent misunderstandings that could compromise the humanitarian mission of the institutions. Hezbollah has remained silent on the issue, leaving the matter to official diplomatic channels.

The development presents a test for Lebanese-Gulf relations. While Kuwait is maintaining a strict legal approach to preventing the financing of entities linked to groups it classifies as terrorist, Lebanon is seeking to safeguard its fragile healthcare system, warning that “the politicisation of medicine could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe affecting ordinary citizens before any political actors.”