Six US troops killed in Iranian drone strike on command center in Kuwait
Six American service members have died after an Iranian drone strike hit a command center at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait, marking the first US fatalities in the new conflict with Iran.
US Central Command said the deaths came after an “unmanned aircraft system” broke through air defences and struck the site on Sunday morning. The attack targeted what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as a “tactical operations center that was fortified,” but added there was “one” projectile that made it through.
Officials first reported three deaths, but the toll rose to six after one service member died from their injuries and two more bodies were recovered from the wreckage. Eighteen other troops have been seriously wounded since the operation began.
The building hit was being used as a makeshift operations hub at a civilian port. According to officials familiar with the incident, the structure was similar to a large trailer outfitted as office space and surrounded by concrete barriers designed to stop car bombs, not drones or missiles. The strike came shortly after 9 a.m. local time with no warning sirens, and left parts of the building blackened and burning for hours.
The six troops were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command and the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, units responsible for logistics such as food, fuel and equipment. The military operation against Iran, launched alongside Israel, has been named Operation Epic Fury.
Four of the fallen soldiers have been publicly identified:
Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Florida
Sgt. Noah Tietjens, 42, of Nebraska
Sgt. Nicole Amor, 39, of Minnesota
Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Iowa
Two additional service members have not yet been named as families continue to be notified.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the likelihood of further losses, saying: “Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is.”
In a Pentagon briefing, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the fallen troops “the best that our nation has to offer” and “true examples of what selfless service means.”
“Our deepest and heartfelt condolences are with their families, their friends, and their units,” he said. “We grieve with you and we will never forget you.”
Iran has launched missiles and drones at several Gulf states hosting US forces in response to the joint US-Israeli campaign. Separately, three US fighter jets were lost in what the military described as a “friendly fire” incident in Kuwait. All pilots ejected safely.
More than 13,000 American troops are stationed in Kuwait, a long-time US defense partner in the region. The six deaths are the only confirmed US combat fatalities so far in the operation.
