Iranian Commandos Captured In Kuwait & Ukraine’s New Drone Alliance

May 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Kuwait accuses Iran of dispatching IRGC commandos to infiltrate a strategic island during a fragile Gulf ceasefire, highlighting persistent shadow warfare. Meanwhile, the US and Ukraine advance a drone defense partnership as Kyiv diversifies alliances and publicly voices frustration with the Trump administration over shifting priorities. North Korea reaps economic gains from arming and deploying troops to aid Russia in Ukraine.

Iranian Infiltration on Bubyan Island

Kuwaiti forces intercepted a group of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers attempting to land on Bubyan Island, Kuwait's largest, via fishing vessel earlier this month. The suspects—identified as colonels, a captain, and a first lieutenant—faced a confrontation that wounded one Kuwaiti service member; four were captured, two escaped. Officials described it as a state-directed hostile operation amid a supposed regional ceasefire with Iran.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:38) **Episode Welcome** - Mike Baker introduces Wednesday's President's Daily Brief on global security developments
2 (00:48) **Iran Accused of IRGC Infiltration** - Kuwait captures four Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers attempting covert ops on Bubyan Island during Gulf ceasefire
3 (03:01) **Bubyan Island's Strategic Value** - Hosts Chinese-backed Mubarak Al Kabeer Port amid key shipping lanes and oil infrastructure
4 (03:33) **Timing Ties to Trump-Xi Summit** - Accusations emerge before Thursday talks on Gulf crisis and Hormuz instability
5 (04:17) **Pattern of Iranian Shadow Attacks** - Prior drone/missile strikes on Kuwaiti oil, power, and desalination plants
6 (05:20) **Israel Deploys Iron Dome to UAE** - US ambassador confirms Israeli systems and personnel aid UAE defense against Iran
7 (06:00) **Ceasefire Masks Ongoing Shadow War** - Shift to sabotage, proxies, drones, and infiltrations despite diplomatic claims

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Show Notes

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:

Iran is accused of sending IRGC commandos onto Kuwaiti territory during the fragile Gulf ceasefire, raising fears the region’s shadow war is still escalating behind the scenes.

The war with Iran is reportedly accelerating U.S.-Ukraine defense cooperation, with Washington and Kyiv now pursuing a landmark drone and air defense agreement as modern warfare rapidly evolves.

Frustrations between Kyiv and the Trump administration appear to be boiling over, as President Volodymyr Zelensky increasingly distances Ukraine from what was once its most important ally.

And in today’s Back of the Brief — North Korea’s support for Russia’s war effort is reportedly fueling the country’s biggest economic growth surge in nearly a decade, as Pyongyang earns billions supplying troops, missiles, and ammunition to Moscow.

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