About 25,00 American soldiers are currently stationed in the emirate.

Kuwait is also the transit point for multinational forces travelling to and from neighbouring Iraq.

The US embassy in Kuwait City said last month that it had credible information that terrorist groups were planning attacks in the region.

"The military intelligence security service is questioning some soldiers, following information concerning their intention to carry out an attack on friendly forces," Kuwaiti army spokesman Yousef Abdelrazzak al-Mulla was quoted as saying by the Kuna news agency.

The spokesman said that the number of the soldiers detained was fewer than five and that they could face court martial.

He added that some of those interrogated had already been released because they were cleared from involvement in any plots.

Reports from Kuwait say the arrests were made last week and that a number of civilians had also been detained.