Wounded soldiers question Army planning before deadly Kuwait drone strike
Soldiers told the Associated Press that commanders moved troops to Kuwait's Port Shuaiba despite warnings it lacked drone defenses, before a March 1 Iranian drone strike killed six U.S. soldiers. The Army declined to comment, saying families have not yet been briefed on its completed investigation.
AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below
What happened
U.S. soldiers wounded in the deadliest known attack on American troops in the Iran war are questioning their commanders in public, many for the first time, the Associated Press reported Monday. Six soldiers died and dozens were hurt when an Iranian drone hit an Army operations center at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1.
What soldiers told AP: The account draws on interviews with 13 soldiers, mostly officers. Several said commanders were warned the port had no real defense against drones and was seen as a likely secondary Iranian target. They said the logistics team could have worked from a safer site outside Kuwait. "We did our work on a computer," Maj. Billy Key said. "We could have been anywhere."
The morning of the attack: Capt. Cody Khork, the unit's safety officer, had advised against going to the port, according to Maj. Stephen Ramsbottom. Ramsbottom said higher-ranking officers pushed to clear troops out of the bunkers. About 20 minutes after the final all-clear, a drone smashed through the roof. Khork was killed and later promoted to major. AP said it remains unclear who made the final call to leave the bunkers.
Why it matters
The war is nearing its eighth month. AP puts the U.S. toll at 19 personnel killed, more than 800 wounded and at least $44 billion spent.
What’s next
Families are waiting for the Army's briefing on its findings and the release of a redacted report.
More context
Who was in charge: Maj. Gen. John Hinson and Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes followed orders from U.S. Army Central and Central Command to leave nearby Camp Arifjan, AP reported. Neither general could change air defenses at the site. Hinson declined to comment on the record, and Barnes did not respond. One enlisted soldier told AP the command team faces unfair criticism for hard wartime choices.
Care afterward: Some wounded soldiers said they waited about a week in Kuwait and were later sent to barracks in Germany instead of a hospital. Several said it took weeks to be diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. The Pentagon said all wounded troops are evaluated and may be admitted based on how badly they are hurt.
The Army's response: The Army finished its investigation in June but has not released it, an official told AP. The Army said it would not comment on details "out of respect for the primary next of kin" until families are briefed. A July inspector general letter found no misconduct by Barnes, based on limited evidence. "We have the right to know what really happened," said Tina Marzan, whose husband was killed.
Who died: Maj. Cody Khork, Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens, Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, Sgt. Declan Coady and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan. All six were with the Iowa-based 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit.
3 listed sources
- Associated Press (Jack Brook, Konstantin Toropin, Julie Watson, Russ Bynum), Oct 5, 2026
- Associated Press, Oct 5, 2026
- Sourcing note: Single-outlet exclusive (wire service). AP says The Washington Post and CBS News reported some details earlier. Army, Pentagon and inspector-general positions, and one soldier's defense of the command, are included for balance.
References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.
Editorial sourcing notes
This account rests on an Associated Press exclusive based on interviews with 13 soldiers, mostly officers; several spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal. AP said battlefield accounts are often in tension, and it is not certain who made the final call to leave the bunkers. The Army and Pentagon declined to comment on the reporting. The Army's investigation, finished in June, has not been released. Casualty and cost totals are AP's.
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