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

Senate Democrats are demanding answers from the Pentagon regarding medical care provided to service members wounded in the March 1 drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. Lawmakers say the Defense Department has not fully responded to an earlier congressional inquiry or released 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.), along with four other Senate Democrats and eight House Democrats, requested answers by August 12 to 23 questions concerning:

• Medical care
• Casualty reporting
• Force protection
• Ongoing investigations related to the attack

Lawmakers state that the Pentagon has not fully addressed an April letter raising concerns about force protection prior to the attack, nor has it 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 to Military Times about the letter.

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.
• Approximately two dozen service members were not flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany until nine days after the attack.

Lawmakers also referenced 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, resulting in only limited treatment at Landstuhl. Further reporting indicates 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, 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 on February 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

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 has 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.