Six American service members were killed on Sunday, March 2, 2026, when an Iranian missile struck a U.S. tactical operations centre in Kuwait, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday.
CENTCOM initially reported three fatalities in the immediate aftermath of the strike but later revised the toll after one injured soldier succumbed to wounds and two additional bodies were recovered from the rubble of the damaged facility.
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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the incident as a “direct and tragic result” of Iran’s ongoing retaliatory campaign, stating that a “powerful weapon” evaded layered air defences and hit a “fortified tactical operations centre.” He did not disclose the exact location within Kuwait but confirmed the site was used for operational coordination.
Three U.S. military officials speaking to CBS News (BBC’s U.S. partner) on condition of anonymity said the service members were working in a makeshift office space reportedly a reinforced trailer surrounded by 12ft (3.7m) steel-reinforced concrete barriers when the missile struck. They questioned whether the structure had been adequately hardened against high-precision or hypersonic threats.
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The deaths represent the highest single-incident U.S. military fatalities in the current conflict since the United States and Israel launched joint operations against Iran following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Iran has intensified missile and drone strikes across the Gulf in retaliation, targeting U.S. allies and military facilities. Strikes have been reported in: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
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In a separate incident in Kuwait on Monday, the U.S. confirmed three fighter jets were lost to “friendly fire.” Footage circulating online showed the aircraft spiralling to the ground; all pilots ejected safely. Iran state media claimed responsibility for downing the jets but provided no evidence.
Secretary Hegseth warned that operations “could continue for weeks or months” and declined to rule out ground troop deployment if necessary. The U.S. State Department reiterated its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for the entire Middle East, urging immediate departure due to “serious safety risks.”
The widening conflict now involving direct attacks on diplomatic compounds, energy infrastructure, and coalition military targets continues to raise concerns about escalation into a broader regional or global confrontation.
This is a rapidly evolving situation.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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