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On October 8, 2002 two Kuwaiti citizens with ties to jihadist in Afghanistan launched the Faylaka Island attack against United States Marines. The Marines were on a training exercise on Failaka Island, an island off the coast of Kuwait. One Marine was killed, and another was seriously injured. The two Kuwaitis, Anas Al Kandari and Jassem al-Hajiri were also killed. They were reported to have served as volunteers with the Taliban, in Afghanistan, prior to the American response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The Marines rifles were loaded with blank rounds for the training exercise. But they were able to engage their Kuwaiti attackers with their pistols. Prior to the 1991 Gulf War the island was a resort, but, in 2002, the war damage had not been repaired.
After the attack the Marines locked down the area.
Guantanamo captives alleged to have an association with the Faylaka Island attack
A number of the captives held in extrajudicial detention in Guantanamo had their continued detention justified, in part, through a friendship or family relationship with the two attackers.