US Soldiers Challenge Pentagon's Claims on Iranian Drone Attack

Amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, serious doubts have emerged regarding the assertions made by the US military and the Pentagon. On March 1, American soldiers who narrowly escaped an Iranian drone strike at Shuaiba Port in Kuwait publicly labeled their government's claims as "false" for the first time.

In retaliation for the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a joint attack by Israel and the US, Iran has begun targeting all American installations in the region, including Shuaiba Port, which was attacked on March 1. This incident resulted in the deaths of six members of the US Army Reserve and injuries to 20 others, marking the first American casualties in this conflict. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that the attack utilized an Iranian "squatter" drone, claiming it successfully evaded the air defense systems at the supposedly "fortified" base. However, survivors of the attack, in their first public appearance, contradicted the Pentagon's narrative, stating that their unit, the 103rd Sustainment Command, was "not prepared."

Speaking to CBS News, an injured soldier expressed that the unit was "not ready" to defend itself, emphasizing that the base was not a "fortified" location. Under the condition of anonymity, the soldier remarked, "To suggest that 'a drone somehow slipped in' is completely inaccurate."

‘Everything Shook’

The soldiers claimed that their unit had been moved closer to the range of Iranian missiles and drones. They reported that after receiving warnings of missile attacks in the morning, they sought shelter, but just before the drone strike, an "all-clear signal" was given. One soldier recounted to CBS News that thirty minutes later, the drone attack occurred, and "everything shook violently."

The soldier described the experience as akin to scenes from movies, with a loud ringing in their ears, blurred vision, and a disorienting cloud of dust and smoke. He detailed injuries including head trauma, excessive bleeding, ruptured eardrums, and the sight of shrapnel scattered everywhere, with many individuals covered in blood from wounds to their stomachs, arms, and legs.

US soldiers were ordered to deploy to Jordan and Saudi Arabia just a week before the launch of Operation Epic Fury, advised to stay clear of the range of Iranian drones and missiles. However, several members of the 103rd Sustainment Command were directed to a small military outpost at Shuaiba Port.

They described it as "a classic, old military base" with minimal barriers and makeshift offices made of tin. They noted that the base was "a familiar target" and that they had little protection beyond a thin line of standing blast barricades.

One soldier told CBS News, "We moved closer to Iran, into a highly insecure area that was a known target. I don’t think any solid reasoning was ever provided for this. The soldier added, "I would categorize it as 'nothing' in terms of drone defense capabilities… absolutely nothing."

The accounts from the soldiers starkly contrast the Pentagon's statements, which claimed that soldiers received immediate relief. However, the soldiers denied this, stating they provided first aid to the injured themselves. Previous media reports have raised similar questions about whether air defense systems were installed at the base. So far, no officials from the US military or the Pentagon have commented on the soldiers' claims.