Survivors Dispute Pentagon Account of Iranian Attack in Kuwait

Survivors of an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that killed six U.S. Service members are disputing the Pentagon’s account of the incident, alleging that their unit was left dangerously exposed and lacked the necessary defenses to protect personnel.

The attack occurred on March 1, 2026, at a port facility in Shuaiba, Kuwait. The strike resulted in the deaths of six service members and left more than 20 others wounded. The targeted unit was part of the Army’s 103rd Sustainment Command.

According to reports from CBS News, members of the unit have challenged the description provided by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Secretary characterized the drone as a squirter, suggesting it had squirted through the defenses of what he described as a fortified unit.

Soldiers who were present during the attack have contradicted this assessment, stating that the position was not fortified and the unit was unprepared to defend itself. One injured soldier described the Pentagon’s depiction of the drone squeaking through as a falsehood.

Eyewitness Accounts of the Attack

Sgt. First Class Cory Hicks, a native of Princeton, Minnesota, provided a detailed account of the events from his hospital room at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Hicks reported hearing a buzzing noise that grew louder immediately before the strike.

Hicks stated that he saw the nose of the drone appear before the device detonated, blowing apart the building. He noted that he and other soldiers had previously been in a bunker while missiles and drones were being intercepted overhead.

The strike occurred after the soldiers had received an all clear signal, prompting them to leave the bunker and return to their workstations at the Shuaiba port command center.

Following the explosion, Hicks described a scene of smoke and fire and crazy and chaos. He reported pulling his battle buddy and other personnel out of the wreckage before realizing the extent of his own injuries.

Hicks sustained shrapnel wounds that severed an artery attached to his spleen and caused nerve damage to his face, as well as injuries to his arms. As of March 9, 2026, he remained at Walter Reed for continued recovery.

Discrepancies in Security Assessments

The conflict between the survivors’ testimonies and the official Pentagon narrative centers on the level of security at the Kuwaiti port facility. While the Department of Defense described the site as fortified, survivors characterized it as a thinly fortified facility.

Soldiers spoke to CBS News on the condition of anonymity due to rigid military media restrictions. They emphasized that despite the lack of adequate defenses and the resulting carnage, the personnel within the charred compound responded with ingenuity and valor to save lives.

One member of the 103rd Sustainment Command stated that neither leadership decisions nor the security environment should diminish the sacrifice of the soldiers who put themselves in harm’s way.

The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment regarding the specific account provided by Sgt. First Class Hicks.