American soldiers at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, stated that base commanders disregarded intelligence indicating the site was a likely Iranian target before a March 1 drone strike that killed six U.S. military personnel, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
Based on accounts from 17 individuals, including survivors and witnesses, Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes evacuated the area after the attack, while his subordinates remained inside.
Survivors expressed “guilt and betrayal,” with many asserting they “didn’t do enough to protect those who died.”
The investigation also found wounded troops believed the U.S. military’s medical response was inadequate, The Washington Post revealed.
The U.S. military leadership, including Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes and Maj. Gen. John Hinson, did not directly address the criticisms but broadly justified their decisions, according to The Washington Post.
No Punishments for Leadership
The U.S. Army’s internal investigation into the attack found no disciplinary actions or accountability assigned to the base’s leadership, per sources with knowledge of the process.
Maj. Stephen Ramsbottom, present during the attack, told The Washington Post, “If we don’t learn from these mistakes, if we all believe the same false narrative, this will happen to another unit, and they’ll face the same consequences.”
The report criticized the base’s defense systems, noting they were unprepared to counter Iran’s Shahed drones, which successfully targeted the facility despite only small drones being intercepted during the strike.
Additionally, the report alleged that safe zones lacked proper overhead cover, leaving soldiers exposed.
One soldier stated, “We knew it was an identified target,” as the site was chosen partly because it had not been attacked during the initial U.S.-Iran tensions in June 2025.
Soldiers and Commanders Pressured for Shelter Compliance
The investigation revealed that commanders ordered soldiers to remain in buildings rather than seek cover during alarms, with an “all clear” given just 30 minutes before the strike.
Soldiers also reported that officers disapproved of sleeping in bunkers, even after prolonged sheltering due to ongoing Iranian attacks.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the generals “immediately assisted with the on-scene evacuation of personnel and worked directly with ground forces to establish initial accountability before medical evacuation due to their own injuries.”
