Warnings went unheeded before deadly Iranian drone strike killed 6 US soldiers in Kuwait, AP investigation finds

Euro Times – An Associated Press investigation has revealed new details about security and command decisions before an Iranian drone struck Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, killing six US soldiers and wounding dozens in the deadliest known attack on American forces during the war with Iran.

AP interviewed 13 US soldiers, primarily officers serving in key positions or familiar with high-level briefings. Several said threat assessments had shown that the logistics site was vulnerable to drone attacks and that intelligence indicated the port could be an Iranian target.

Warnings before the strike

Soldiers told AP that commanders kept a core logistics operation at the port despite concerns about its air defences. Some officers said the computer-based work could have been conducted from a safer location outside Kuwait, while senior leadership believed a group needed to remain in the country for communications and logistics reasons.

A crew of roughly 75 logistics soldiers remained at Port Shuaiba, along with dozens of personnel from other units.

Safety officer warned of the danger and was killed

One of the most striking findings concerns Capt. Cody Khork, who oversaw safety for the unit and had strongly advised against moving to the port because of the risks.

On the morning of the attack, Khork expressed concern about troops leaving bunkers amid uncertainty over incoming drones, according to an officer who was with him. Minutes after the final all-clear, a drone crashed through the roof and killed Khork and others. Khork was posthumously promoted to major.

Limited protection against drones

The three major US military bases in Kuwait had strengthened their air defences before the war, but Port Shuaiba relied on Patriot missile coverage in the vicinity of Camp Arifjan. The system can detect small aircraft, but large numbers of relatively inexpensive drones can rapidly consume costly interceptor missiles and reduce protection against more dangerous missile attacks.

The officers responsible for the logistics operation did not themselves have authority to change the site’s air and drone defences.

Medical chaos after the attack

Seven soldiers, including senior officers, told AP that the troops at the port entered the war without having implemented a broad mass-casualty plan. Soldiers whose phones survived the blast searched online for nearby medical facilities as they tried to evacuate the wounded.

Some injured troops later described delays in diagnosing traumatic brain injuries and obtaining specialised care. The Pentagon has said wounded troops arriving at its medical facilities are evaluated and admitted according to the severity of their injuries and accepted medical practices.

Army investigation has not been released

The US Army completed its investigation into the Port Shuaiba attack in June, but the report has not yet been publicly released while sensitive information is redacted, according to an official familiar with the investigation.

The Army and Pentagon declined to address details of AP’s reporting before the official findings are fully briefed to the families of those killed.

Some Gold Star families are demanding greater transparency about why troops remained at a location that soldiers say was known to have insufficient protection against drone attacks.

The deadliest strike on US troops in the war

The Port Shuaiba attack occurred on the second day of the US war with Iran. Six American service members were killed and dozens were wounded, making it the deadliest known strike on US troops since the conflict began.

The new testimony is renewing scrutiny of US military threat assessments, air-defence readiness and emergency planning at logistics sites across the Gulf.