Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account

Exclusive World Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account, say unit "was unprepared" to defend itself By Jonah Kaplan, Jonah Kaplan Investigative Reporter Jonah Kaplan is an award-winning journalist who has built a strong reputation for his balanced reporting, thoughtful interviews, and deeply researched coverage of high-impact issues affecting the community. His work appears on all of WCCO's newscasts and is often featured on CBS News' programs and platforms, including the CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings and CBS 24/7. Read Full Bio Jonah Kaplan, Michael Kaplan Michael Kaplan Reporter and Producer Michael Kaplan is an award-winning reporter and producer for the CBS News investigative unit. He specializes in securing scoops and crafting long-form television investigations. His work has appeared on "60 Minutes," CNN and in The New York Times. Read Full Bio Michael Kaplan April 9, 2026 / 7:47 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Survivors of the deadliest Iranian attack on U.S. forces since the war began have disputed the Pentagon's description of events and said their unit in Kuwait was left dangerously exposed when six service members were killed and more than 20 wounded.Speaking publicly for the first time, members of the targeted unit offered CBS News a detailed account of the attack and its harrowing aftermath from the perspective of those on the ground. The members CBS News spoke to disputed the description of events from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who described the drone as a "squirter" — in that it squirted through the defenses of a fortified unit inside Kuwait."Painting a picture that 'one squeaked through' is a falsehood," one of the injured soldiers told CBS News. "I want people to know the unit … was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position."That service member, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of rigid media restrictions within the mili...