Soldiers accuse Army of ignoring warnings before Kuwait drone attack

The March 1 drone attack at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait killed six U.S. service members and wounded 20. Survivors of the attack said the Army missed repeated warnings about weak defenses and a shortage of medical support before the strike.

The troops were assigned to the Army Reserve’s 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa. The attack hit during Operation Epic Fury, which began Feb. 28, 2026, and targeted Iranian positions while U.S. forces operated through Port Shuaiba, Kuwait’s primary industrial port and a commercial harbor used to move military vehicles and supplies. Survivors said their unit had asked for additional medical personnel and resources weeks before the drone strike, but those requests were ignored. Survivors said at least one of the dead might have survived if more medical supplies had been on site.

The Pentagon acknowledged that about 140 U.S. troops were wounded over the first 10 days of the conflict, more than first indicated. Army casualty classifications use labels such as “not seriously injured,” “seriously injured,” and “very seriously injured.” Under Army protocol, SI and VSI generally mean a person is at risk of dying within 72 hours.

One soldier, Hicks, said his wife was later told his injuries were a “minor jaw injury” and that he would be returned to duty. Another survivor, Amy Bearman, said she knew to stay away from the television when Operation Epic Fury began.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin questioned Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about why the Army denied the request for extra medical support before the strike. The Army Reserve announced the deaths on March 3, 2026. Four Army Reserve soldiers had died while supporting Operation Epic Fury, and the incident remained under investigation.