Pentagon Faces Revolt as U.S. Troops Dispute ‘Fortified Base’ Claim in Deadly Kuwait Strike
Survivors of the deadliest Iranian attack on U.S. forces in the current war are disputing the Pentagon’s account, raising new questions about how the strike unfolded and why troops were exposed.
The March 1 drone attack in Kuwait killed six American service members and wounded more than 20, but soldiers who were there say the official explanation does not match what they experienced on the ground.
According to CBS News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strike as a single drone slipping through defenses at a fortified base. Survivors say that description is inaccurate and that the unit had little to no protection in place.
Several soldiers told CBS their position was not fortified and lacked basic air defense, adding they had concerns beforehand about being placed in a high-risk area known to be a potential Iranian target.
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“Painting a picture that ‘one squeaked through’ is a falsehood,” one injured soldier told CBS News.
The conflicting accounts introduce a deeper issue beyond the attack itself, pointing to possible gaps in planning, force protection, and decision-making during a widening conflict that has already killed at least 13 U.S. troops.
The Pentagon has not publicly reconciled the differences, saying only that an investigation is ongoing, leaving key questions unanswered about responsibility and risk assessments.
Further findings from that investigation are expected to determine whether the attack was unavoidable or preventable.
The fallout from those conclusions could reshape how the war is understood.
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