Testimonies from U.S. soldiers who survived Iran’s attack on the Port Shuaiba military base in Kuwait indicate that their commanders had received intelligence warnings that the base could be targeted. However, they allegedly failed to take adequate measures to prevent or mitigate the attack.
A drone attack carried out on March 1, 2026, killed six U.S. soldiers and injured several others.
An investigation by The Washington Post, based on testimony from 17 people, including survivors of the attack and eyewitnesses, found that military commanders had prior intelligence indicating that Port Shuaiba was among the locations Iran was likely to target.
One of the soldiers said, “We knew the base had been identified as a potential target.”
Despite those warnings, the report says the base lacked adequate defenses against Iran’s Shahed drones. During the attack, U.S. forces were able to shoot down only the smaller drones, while the larger ones successfully reached their targets.
The investigation also found that the shelters designated for troops were not properly prepared. According to witness testimony, some bunkers lacked reinforced roofs capable of protecting soldiers from explosions or debris caused by collapsing structures.
The soldiers said that whenever attack alerts were issued, some commanders instructed them to remain inside the buildings instead of allowing them to move to the designated shelters.
Some also claimed that military leaders refused to let troops spend the night in protective bunkers, even though Iranian attacks had continued for several hours.
More strikingly, the all-clear signal, indicating that the immediate threat had passed, was reportedly issued just 30 minutes before the attack that killed six U.S. soldiers.
Several soldiers said the premature signal led them to leave their shelters or lower their guard just as the Iranian drone was approaching the base.
According to the report, Port Shuaiba may have been chosen as a target because it had escaped attack during the first round of fighting between the United States and Iran in June 2025. That had led some military officials to believe the base could be targeted in a subsequent phase of the conflict.
