Six US Soldier were killed after an Iranian strike hit a makeshift US operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait, marking the first American fatalities in the current conflict between the United States and Iran.
A source familiar with the incident told CNN that the attack occurred shortly after 9:00am local time on Sunday at Shuaiba port. The strike directly hit the center of a temporary operations facility set up inside a large trailer used as office space.
The death toll rose to six on Monday afternoon after US Central Command confirmed that the remains of two previously missing service members had been recovered.
Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike hit a fortified tactical operations center, adding that one projectile managed to penetrate air defence systems. Initial reports had suggested a possible drone attack.
According to the source, the strike came without warning. No sirens were sounded, and troops had no time to evacuate or seek shelter. Hours later, parts of the facility were still burning. The blast blackened the interior and blew out sections of the walls.
Satellite images taken Sunday morning showed a building at the port engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising into the air. Dozens of personnel were present at the site at the time of the attack. Recovery efforts were delayed as the structure continued to smoulder.
CENTCOM said the facility was struck during Iran’s initial wave of attacks. The identities of the fallen troops have not yet been released, as families are still being notified.
The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, a standalone headquarters based at Fort Knox, with personnel deployed on rotational assignments.
The deaths are the first US combat casualties in the military operation against Iran, launched early Saturday and named Operation Epic Fury. Both Hegseth and US President Donald Trump have warned that further casualties are likely. CENTCOM said 18 other US troops have been seriously wounded during the operation.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine described the fallen troops as “the best that our nation has to offer” and expressed condolences to their families, friends, and units.
