US Soldiers Killed in Iran Drone Strike Were Inside Makeshift Hub, Officials Say
Six US service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait were working inside a lightly fortified operations center, described by military sources as a makeshift office space.
The incident took place at a command and control post at Shuaiba Port, a civilian shipping hub south of Kuwait City, amid the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran.
Three US military officials familiar with the casualties told CBS News that the infrastructure was a triple-wide trailer used as office space, which is a common setup at overseas installations but not designed to withstand aerial attacks.
The building was surrounded by 6 to 12-foot (2 to 4-meter) concrete “T-wall” barriers typically used to protect troops from rockets, mortar fire, and shrapnel.
Those panels, although steel-reinforced, provided little protection from overhead threats.
Sources said the drone appeared to strike the center of the structure, sparking a fire that destroyed the facility.
The officials highlighted that personnel had already expressed concerns about using the Shuaiba headquarters, citing the risk of concentrating personnel in a vulnerable location.
‘Fortified’ Station
Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell disputed descriptions of the site as an improvised hub, saying the “secure facility was fortified” and that “every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops.”
Separately, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the attack involved a destructive weapon that penetrated air defenses.
“You have air defenses, and a lot’s coming in, and you hit most of it,” The Hill quoted Hegseth as saying. “Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through.”
“And in that particular case it happened to hit a tactical operation center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons,” he continued.
‘Fake News’
Hegseth also criticized the press, accusing outlets of using coverage of the incident to portray US President Donald Trump negatively.
“This is what the fake news misses. We’ve taken control of Iran’s airspace and waterways without boots on the ground. We control their fate,” he stated.
“But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen it’s front page news. I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality.”
