The US military administration warned of further casualties amid the escalation of conflict, as the death toll among American soldiers rises. Among the six soldiers killed so far, four were members of the Iowa Army National Guard. The military stated on Tuesday that the four died on Sunday when a drone struck a US military facility in Shuaiba Port, Kuwait. The Pentagon identified the four soldiers, aged between 20 and 42, serving in the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, as part of global army supply operations.
General Todd T. Esquiline, commander of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, expressed condolences to the families and unit members in a statement. President Donald Trump and other senior officials warned of further casualties among US forces due to the conflict with Iran, which is retaliating for American and Israeli strikes. The US Central Command reported on Tuesday that Iran has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones in attacks across Middle Eastern countries.
During a closed-door briefing for lawmakers on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, CIA Director Bill Burns, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the threats facing American forces. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy stated, “They told us in that room that more Americans are going to die – and that they cannot stop these drones.”
Two Reuters sources stated that the Kuwaiti facility where the four deaths occurred was protected by blast-resistant concrete walls but was not equipped with a reinforced roof. One of the officials, who requested anonymity, added that it is unclear if air defenses were active at the time, though it appears sirens did not sound as the drone approached.
