BOMBINGS IN KUWAIT: 12 DECEMBER 1983 INFORMATION AS OF 1400, 13 DECEMBER 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10C00522R000101310001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 13, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

A)9SR a) /03(0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/22 : CIA-RDP10C00522R000101310001-4
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Bombings in Kuwait; 12 December 1983
Information as of 1400, 13 December 1983
Casualties and Damage
All Americans alive; minor injuries to some.
Four killed at US Embassy; three were Foreign Service Nationals or contract
employees; fourth (unidentified) presumably was truck driver.
At least one killed in five other bombings around Kuwait City.
o "Before and after" photos (attached) illustrate damage at US Embassy; approximately
one-half of administrative annex has collapsed since "after" photo taken, due to
structural damage caused by blast.
Responsibility
"Islamic Jihad" claims responsibility for Kuwaiti bombings. Little is known about
group; may be cover name for Iranian agents or Lebanese Shias connected with Iran.
-- Same group claimed responsibility for previous attacks on US, French, and Israeli
targets in Lebanon, including US Embassy (April) and US and French MNF
headquarters (October).
State Department believes suicide truck driver at US Embassy acted alone;
unidentified injured male earlier thought to be an accomplice now believed to be
innocent workman.
-- Kuwaiti officials reportedly have arrested seven suspects, all Shias.
Syrians, Iranians, and extremist Palestinians have been linked to previous threats
against US Embassy in Kuwait and each would have reasons to attack US, French, and
Kuwaiti interests.
Syrians and Iranians often work together in planning or
conducting terrorist actions in region.
New Threats
Syrians and Iranians may
rge u in eres s in urope, speci ical y Athens, Paris, or London.
o Sophistication of the closely timed bombings- in Kuwait and apparent ease with which
they were carried out underscore vulnerability of other moderate Arab governments in
the Gulf and Western facilities there.
Related Developments
o All Arab Gulf states have condemned Kuwait bombings and offered increased security to
US Embassy facilities.
o US Embassies in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, and ARAMCO have received bomb
threats in past 24 hours; no bombs found.
NESA M 83-10347
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/22 : CIA-RDP10C00522R000101310001-4
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1?74
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/22 : CIA-RDP10C00522R000101310001-4
SUBJECT: Bombings in Kuwait; 12 December 1983
MESA M 83-10347 -
Distribution:
Orig
1
1
2
4
1
- 1
- DCI
- DDI
- D/NESA
- NIO/NESA
- MESA/PS
- CPAS/CMD/CB
- NESA/PG
- NESA/PG/P
ORIG:NESA/PG/P
(13 Dec 83)
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/10/22 : CIA-RDP10C00522R000101310001-4
25X1