Officials say low-flying Iranian drone evaded defenses before striking tactical operations center at Shuaiba port.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Six American servicemembers killed in a recent Iranian drone strike in Kuwait had no advance warning of the attack, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Citing two U.S. officials, the Journal reported that the drone flew low and slow, avoiding U.S. air defense systems before striking near the Shuaiba port along the Persian Gulf. The impact killed six troops assigned to the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, which is based at Fort Knox and oversees the movement of equipment and personnel through the port.
The strike reportedly hit a tactical operations center at the facility. Despite fortifications, officials acknowledged that smaller unmanned systems can sometimes bypass layered defenses.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the incident Monday, telling reporters, “Every once in a while you might have one.”
“Unfortunately, we call it a squirter that, that makes its way through. And in that particular case it happened to hit a tactical operation center,” Hegseth added. “That was fortified. But these are powerful weapons.”
The Pentagon has faced persistent challenges in countering small drones that operate at low altitudes, where traditional radar systems are less effective. According to the Journal, while the military fields multiple counter-drone platforms, none provide complete protection against all threats.
In the days leading up to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the Pentagon reportedly repositioned additional missile defense assets into the region to reinforce protection for American forces and facilities.
The Kuwait strike follows a similar incident two years ago, when three U.S. soldiers were killed by an Iranian drone attack on Tower 22 in Jordan.
Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury over the weekend, Iran has carried out multiple drone attacks across the region.
The Journal reported that the Pentagon has been testing additional counter-drone technologies, including high-energy laser systems designed to neutralize small unmanned aircraft. The U.S. military has deployed such systems overseas and more recently along the southern border as part of broader defensive measures.
Officials continue to assess how the drone evaded detection and whether additional protective measures will be implemented following the deadly strike.