Senate Democrats press Pentagon on medical care for troops wounded in Kuwait drone strike

Senate Democrats are pressing the Pentagon for answers about medical care provided to service members wounded in the March 1 drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, stating that the Defense Department has yet to fully respond to an earlier congressional inquiry or release the results of the Army’s investigation into the attack.

In a July 29 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined by four other Senate Democrats and eight House Democrats, requested answers by Aug. 12 to 23 questions concerning medical care, casualty reporting, force protection, and ongoing investigations related to the attack.

Lawmakers say the Pentagon has not fully responded to an April letter raising concerns about force protection before the attack and has not provided Congress with the Army’s investigative findings.

Recent reporting has raised new questions about the medical care provided to injured service members after the attack, which killed six U.S. service members and wounded more than 30 others.

A Pentagon official declined to comment about the letter to Military Times.

Key Concerns Raised in the Letter

The letter cites CBS News reporting that:

• Soldiers requested additional medical personnel and supplies before the attack, and those requests were ignored.
• After the strike, some wounded troops drove themselves to a hospital in Kuwait City before later being evacuated.
• About two dozen service members were not flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany until nine days after the attack.

Lawmakers also referred to reporting that some wounded service members arrived in Germany without being identified as medical evacuees or seriously injured patients in the Defense Department Casualty Analysis System, which the lawmakers said resulted in only limited treatment at Landstuhl. Deeper reporting revealed that some troops waited weeks after returning to Fort Hood, Texas, before being evaluated by physicians qualified to diagnose and treat traumatic brain injuries.

Specific Questions Posed to the Pentagon

Among other questions, the lawmakers asked:

• Why requests for additional medical support before the attack were reportedly denied.
• How the Defense Department classifies serious and very serious injuries.
• How many service members have sustained traumatic brain injuries since Operation Epic Fury began Feb. 28.

The request also asks the Pentagon to:

• Explain changes to publicly reported casualty figures during the conflict.
• Provide updates on force protection measures at military installations across the Middle East.
• Release the Army’s investigation into the Port Shuaiba attack.
• Disclose whether additional Inspector General investigations are underway.

Background on the Attack

The March 1 attack at Port Shuaiba remains one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces during Operation Epic Fury. Reporting by The Washington Post, CBS News, The War Horse, and Military Times have described concerns expressed by survivors and family members about force protection, casualty reporting, and medical care following the attack.

The War Horse recently reported that medical records documented injuries including traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, burns, broken bones, hearing loss, and shrapnel wounds among those wounded in the strike.

About the Author

Natalie Oliverio is an independent journalist and Navy veteran who covers military and veterans’ issues. Drawing on her experience as a talent executive and mentor, she writes about the policies, people, and programs shaping the military community.