The first American casualties in the ongoing conflict with Iran were confirmed after a direct strike hit a makeshift operations center at Shuaiba port in Kuwait on Sunday morning.
According to military officials, the strike occurred just after 9 a.m. local time and hit the center of a fortified tactical operations building described as a triple-wide trailer with office space inside. The attack came without warning or sirens, leaving troops little time to evacuate. Hours later, parts of the building were still smoldering, with walls blown outward from the blast.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strike penetrated air defenses, describing it as a suspected drone attack. Satellite imagery taken Sunday morning showed smoke billowing from the port facility.
Initially, three service members were reported killed, but the toll rose as recovery teams located the remains of two previously unaccounted-for soldiers. The troops were assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, based out of Fort Knox, Kentucky, with personnel deployed on nine-month rotations.
US Central Command announced Monday that six service members were killed, raising the toll after the remains of two additional troops were recovered from the site.
The six casualties mark the first US service members killed in action since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign against Iran that began Saturday.
Officials have warned that more casualties are likely as the conflict intensifies. Central Command also reported that 18 troops have been seriously wounded since operations began.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, calling them “the best our nation has to offer” and “true examples of selfless service.” He extended condolences to their families and units, vowing that their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
The strike underscores the risks facing US forces stationed across the Gulf as Iran retaliates for joint US-Israeli attacks on its leadership and military infrastructure. With tensions escalating, military officials have warned of further strikes and a prolonged campaign that could reshape the security landscape of the region.
The United States military confirmed on Monday that six service members were killed in a direct Iranian strike on a makeshift operations center at Shuaiba port in Kuwait. The attack, which occurred on Sunday morning, marks the first American casualties in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to officials, the strike hit a fortified tactical operations center just after 9 a.m. local time. The building, described as a triple-wide trailer with office space, was struck without warning or sirens to alert troops. Witnesses reported that the blast left the interior blackened, walls blown outward, and fires smoldering for hours afterward. Satellite images taken that morning showed smoke billowing from the port facility.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike penetrated air defenses, noting that a single projectile managed to hit the center despite fortifications. Military sources indicated it was likely a drone attack.
Initially, three service members were reported killed, but the toll rose to six after recovery teams located the remains of two previously unaccounted-for soldiers. The troops were assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky, with personnel deployed on nine-month rotations.
The casualties are the first since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign against Iran that began on Saturday. Officials have warned that more losses are likely as the conflict intensifies. Central Command also reported that 18 troops have been seriously wounded since operations began.