U.S. Army Ignored Medical Support Requests Before Strike That Killed 1, as 20 Troops Were Wounded
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 19
U.S. Army Ignored Medical Support Requests Before Strike That Killed 1, as 20 Troops Were Wounded
8 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 19
Weeks before the March 1 Iranian strike in Kuwait, soldiers in the Army’s 103rd Sustainment Command said they asked for more medics, supplies and ambulances but got no added support.
Eight survivors told CBS News the shortfall left troops improvising after the drone hit Port of Shuaiba, using civilian vans to reach a Kuwaiti hospital because no mass-casualty plan or aid convoy arrived.
Master Sgt. Stephen Ramsbottom and Master Sgt. Ann Marie Carrier said Master Sgt. Amor was still breathing after the blast and might have survived with a doctor, fixed aid station or ambulance on site.
The soldiers also said intelligence had warned as early as January that Iran was targeting the post, yet they were moved to a site with only a tin roof and barriers built for rockets, not drones.
The Pentagon said it took “extraordinary steps” to protect forces during Operation Epic Fury and called claims of disregard inaccurate, while saying its investigation into the attack is still ongoing.
Soldiers called official safety claims 'falsehoods.' Will the Pentagon’s investigation now hold commanders accountable for the fatal drone strike?
With a congressional report due, will this tragedy finally force the U.S. military to overhaul its approach to soldier protection?
The U.S. military struggles against cheap drones. Why were troops left without the low-cost defenses needed for a predictable attack?
Six U.S. Soldiers Killed in Kuwait Drone Strike: Systemic Failures, Ignored Warnings, and Congressional Fallout After March 1, 2026 Attack
Overview
On March 1, 2026, a drone strike hit a U.S. Army command post in Kuwait, killing and wounding American service members from the 103rd Sustainment Command. The base, described as an older facility with small barriers and tin buildings, was surrounded by T-walls meant to protect against mortars or rockets, but these offered no defense against aerial drone attacks. Despite intelligence warnings about being targeted, soldiers felt unprotected and lacked adequate medical resources. The tragedy exposed serious gaps in base defenses and preparedness, leading to congressional investigations and calls for accountability at the highest levels of military leadership.