BREAKING:🚨 Survivors of the missile attack that killed 6 Americans say Hegseth is LYING – it wasn’t a lucky shot, they were completely unprepared to defend themselves thanks to Trump’s incompetence!

Survivors of a deadly Iranian drone strike on a U.S. tactical operations center at Kuwait’s Port Shuaiba are publicly challenging the Pentagon’s account of the March 1, 2026, attack that killed six American service members and wounded more than 20 others.

The incident marked the first U.S. fatalities in the early stages of the conflict with Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury. The victims were primarily Army Reserve soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command, serving in logistics roles at the civilian port facility.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the incoming drone as a “squirter”—military slang for a projectile that slips through defenses—stating it struck a “fortified” tactical operations center despite strong air defenses. “These are powerful weapons,” he noted in a press briefing the following day.

Survivors strongly dispute that characterization. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, one injured soldier said, “Painting a picture that ‘one squeaked through’ is a falsehood. I want people to know the unit … was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.”

The soldier described the site as minimally protected, relying mainly on thin vertical blast barricades with no effective overhead cover. “From a bunker standpoint, that’s about as weak as one gets,” he told CBS. When asked about the level of fortification, he replied, “I would put it in the none category. From a drone defense capability … none.”

Another concern raised by the troops was the decision to position the unit closer to potential threats near Iran without what they felt was a clearly articulated strategic justification. “We moved closer to Iran, to a deeply unsafe area that was a known target,” one said.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell pushed back against claims of inadequate protection. “Every possible measure has been taken to safeguard our troops—at every level,” he stated. He added that the secure facility included 6-foot walls and was not a makeshift space.

The attack occurred amid a broader Iranian barrage of drones and missiles in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Forward logistics nodes like the one at Shuaiba involve inherent trade-offs between operational needs and hardening, especially against low-altitude or swarming threats.

Survivors emphasized that their accounts do not diminish the service and sacrifice of those killed. However, they stressed the importance of transparency: “Telling the truth is important.”

The incident has prompted questions about force protection decisions in the opening phase of the conflict. Full after-action reviews are expected to examine command choices, intelligence assessments, and resource allocation amid a rapidly escalating regional threat environment. The six fallen soldiers have been honored for their service, with their families and the wounded continuing to recover from the devastating strike.