Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account, say unit "was unprepared" to defend itself

Key Points:

• Survivors of the deadliest Iranian attack on U.S. forces since the war began have disputed the Pentagon's account, stating their unit in Kuwait was left dangerously exposed and unfortified during the March 1 drone strike that killed six and wounded over 20.
• Soldiers described the targeted facility at Port of Shuaiba as a classic, older military base with minimal protection—steel barriers designed for mortar blasts but ineffective against aerial drone attacks—and questioned why they were positioned within known Iranian missile range.
• Eyewitnesses recounted chaotic scenes of injury and self-triage following the direct drone hit, with soldiers improvising medical care and using civilian vehicles to evacuate the wounded to local hospitals.
• Some survivors criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s description of the drone as a "squirter" that "squeaked through" defenses, emphasizing that the unit was unprepared and lacked adequate drone defense capabilities, though they praised the valor and quick response of their comrades.
• The Pentagon declined to comment due to an ongoing investigation, while Assistant Secretary of Defense Sean Parnell asserted that all possible measures had been taken to safeguard troops and described the facility as fortified with six-foot walls.