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In a tragic turn of events, six US service members lost their lives in Kuwait due to a drone strike by Iran. These troops were stationed inside a makeshift command center that, alarmingly, lacked sufficient overhead protection. Concerns about the vulnerability of this setup had been raised even before the conflict began, as revealed in a recent report.
The incident occurred at a tactical operations center near Shuaiba port during the launch of Operation Epic Fury over the weekend. The Iranian drone targeted their location in the immediate aftermath of the operation’s commencement, resulting in the devastating loss.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented on the situation, asserting that the tactical operations center had been “fortified.” However, military officials disclosed to CBS News that the structure was merely a triple-wide trailer, inadequately equipped to withstand an aerial assault.
Insiders expressed a critical shortcoming in their defenses, highlighting a lack of effective measures against drone attacks. “We basically had no drone defeat capability,” one source lamented, pointing out that requests for additional air defense systems were made but tragically did not arrive in time to prevent the attack.
“We basically had no drone defeat capability,” one source said told the outlet — noting that troops requested more air defense systems but they did not arrive in time.
Along with the six killed in Kuwait, the US military said at least 18 service members have been left seriously wounded in the war.
The dead service members have not been publicly identified.
The trailer’s only fortifications were 12-foot-tall T-walls, a steel-reinforced concrete barrier designed to protect military personnel from explosions and shrapnel, CBS reported.
While the walls could’ve protected the soldiers from a nearby explosion, they would be useless to defend against a drone dive-bombing from above, officials told the outlet.
While such structures are not uncommon at American military bases, the facility in Kuwait had been the subject of recent discussions given that it concentrated so many soldiers in a location that was not as well defended as other positions, three officials told CBS.
The Shuaiba port also lacked American counter-rocket, artillery and mortar systems, with the defense of the base left to Kuwait’s Patriot missile and other interceptors nearby, two other sources added.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell denied CBS’s reporting, claiming it was “not true.”
” Every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops — at every level,” Parnell wrote on X. “The Department is prepared for this engagement and has hardened our defenses.
“We’ve moved a significant number of our troops off the X and will always protect our bases and people from a significantly weakened Iran,” he added.
“We will continue fighting in a way that honors our six fallen: no apologies, no hesitation. Epic fury for them and for every American lost at the hands of Iranian radicals.”
The Pentagon directed The Post to Parnell’s post on X when asked to comment on the report.