Kuwait detains journalist amid Gulf crackdown on war reporting

Kuwaiti authorities have detained US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has not been seen in public for six weeks, as Gulf states tighten restrictions on reporting linked to the Iran war.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Shihab-Eldin, 41, was visiting family in Kuwait when he disappeared from public view on March 2. He has not posted online since.

Authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone, according to the watchdog.

Kuwait introduced new legislation on March 15 that allows prison sentences of up to 10 years for publishing material deemed to undermine confidence in military institutions.

Officials have not responded to requests for comment on his case.

Across the Gulf, authorities have detained hundreds of people for filming or sharing footage related to the conflict.

Shihab-Eldin had previously posted publicly available material about the war, including footage of a US fighter jet crash near a base in Kuwait.