Iranian Attacks on U.S. Base in Kuwait Revealed in New Footage and Witness Accounts
New footage and eyewitness reports detail Iran's attack on a U.S. base in Kuwait, along with the military's strategic retreat.
POLICY WIRE — Kuwait City, Kuwait — Newly released video and firsthand accounts provide a detailed look at an Iranian attack on a U.S. military installation in Kuwait, as well as the subsequent withdrawal of American forces from the area.
The Pentagon has not issued a direct statement but referenced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks from March 4, where he discussed the relocation of U.S. troops from vulnerable positions and the implementation of defensive strategies.
Hegseth stated that the majority of American personnel—over 90%—were moved off-base to avoid exposure to potential Iranian fire. Camp Buehring, located approximately 25 miles from the Iraqi border, has long served as a key logistical hub for U.S. operations in the Middle East.
Before the conflict, sources indicated that most of the roughly 7,000 soldiers stationed there were relocated, as part of the Pentagon’s “get off the X” strategy, which refers to moving away from high-risk locations.
A witness described the attack, stating, They ran so close to us I could see their helmets. They came in, they hit us, and then took off. Despite the evacuation of most personnel, over 100 soldiers remained behind, citing concerns about the base’s ability to manage a large-scale casualty event if the attacks persisted.
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The remaining troops eventually left the base under the cover of night, heading into the Kuwaiti desert to establish forward operating bases (FOBs), where they remained indefinitely. No casualties were reported from enemy fire, though two soldiers were injured—one by lightning during a sandstorm and another by a ruptured eardrum.
Army leadership had attempted to move the troops out before the lightning strike, but the process was delayed. In May, the soldiers were relocated to Camp Arifjan and later to other positions both within and outside the Middle East.
A source described the destruction at Camp Buehring, saying, CBKU got demolished. They need to do an investigation. How come no one came to reinforce us?
A recent report from the Defense Department’s inspector general revealed equipment losses exceeding $3.7 billion, including nearly 60 aircraft. The Congressional Research Service also noted that 81 fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, including drones, had been lost or damaged by Iran since February.
This marks the first time the inspector general has issued a mandatory report to Congress on the conflict with Iran, confirming strikes on U.S. bases across multiple countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
