Iranian Drone Strike in Kuwait Injured Dozens of U.S. Troops

An Iranian drone attack on a tactical operations center at the Shuaiba port in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, resulted in more casualties than initially reported, with over 30 U.S. Service members hospitalized with a range of injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, shrapnel wounds, and burns. Six American soldiers were killed in the strike, marking the first U.S. Combat deaths in the escalating conflict with Iran.

Details of the Attack and Casualties

The attack occurred in the opening hours of the war with Iran. The tactical operations center, located at the Shuaiba port – a commercial harbor and key logistics hub for U.S. Military supplies – was struck by an Iranian drone. Initial reports from the Pentagon indicated five service members were seriously wounded and several others sustained minor injuries. Though, subsequent reports reveal a far more extensive toll.

As of March 4, 2026, the Pentagon has identified all six American troops killed in the attack:

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
• Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa (posthumously promoted from specialist)
• Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa
• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California

The soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Extent of Injuries and Medical Response

More than 30 U.S. Military personnel remain hospitalized with battle injuries sustained in the Kuwait attack. As of March 5, 2026, the breakdown of hospitalizations is as follows:

• 1 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas
• 12 at Walter Reed Medical Center in suburban Washington, D.C.
• Approximately 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany

Around 20 service members were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on a C-17 military transport aircraft, with injuries designated as “urgent,” including traumatic brain injuries, memory loss, and concussions. Over 100 medical personnel were deployed to Landstuhl to provide assistance.

Intelligence and Reconnaissance Prior to the Attack

U.S. Military officials believe Iranian-aligned militia groups conducted reconnaissance prior to the drone strike. Smaller quad-copter drones were observed flying around the Shuaiba port, suspected of monitoring U.S. Troop movements. A U.S. Army Central memo indicated that Iranian intelligence likely tracked U.S. Forces as part of the Pentagon’s force protection plan, anticipating preemptive strikes on Iran. GPS transponders connected to balloons or parachutes were recovered near Patriot Missile Defense Systems, though their role in the attack remains unclear.

Official Statements and Ongoing Conflict

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the attack, stating that even as air defenses intercepted many incoming threats, “one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through” and struck the tactical operations center. As of March 5, 2026, approximately 140 American service members have been injured in the conflict with Iran, with 108 returning to duty and eight remaining severely injured.

Further Developments

At least one American was similarly killed in a separate strike in Saudi Arabia on March 1, 2026. The extent of injuries in that attack remains unclear.