Six US Soldiers Killed in Iran Conflict Drone Strike in Kuwait

Published: March 5, 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

A deadly attack on a United States military facility in Kuwait has claimed the lives of six American soldiers, marking one of the most serious recent escalations linked to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran in the Gulf region. The US Department of Defense confirmed the identities of the fallen service members after an unmanned aircraft system struck a command centre at Port Shuaiba on Sunday, breaching air defences and hitting a tactical operations site where troops were stationed.

Initial reports from US Central Command indicated that three soldiers had been killed in the attack. However, the death toll rose to six by Monday after one injured soldier died from wounds and two additional bodies were recovered from the rubble of the damaged structure. Officials later disclosed the identities of the victims over several days as families were notified and information was verified.

The six soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, Captain Cody Khork, 35, Sergeant Noah Tietjens, 42, Sergeant Nicole Amor, 39, and Sergeant Declan Coady, 20. All were members of the United States Army Reserve, a component of the US Army that provides essential logistical, operational and support roles for military deployments around the world.

Four of the soldiers were formally identified earlier in the week, while the final two names—Marzan and O’Brien—were publicly confirmed on Wednesday. US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll paid tribute to the fallen troops, describing them as individuals who had volunteered to serve their country and whose sacrifice would never be forgotten.

The White House also acknowledged the tragedy, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that President Donald Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the fallen soldiers once their remains are returned to the United States. Such ceremonies traditionally take place at military airbases and serve as a solemn moment when the remains of service members killed overseas are received by military personnel and grieving families.

The Pentagon said arrangements are currently being made by the Department of Defense to repatriate the soldiers’ remains. Military officials indicated that support services are being provided to the families of those who lost their lives.

Among the victims was Captain Cody Khork, a Florida resident who had long aspired to serve in the military. According to statements provided by his family to the Associated Press, Khork had pursued his goal of military service from a young age and enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programme while attending university. Over the course of his career, he had previously been deployed to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay and Poland.

Family members described Khork as someone whose personality and dedication left a strong impression on those around him. In a joint statement, his mother Donna Burhans, father James Khork and stepmother Stacey Khork remembered him as a person with an infectious spirit, a generous heart and a deep sense of commitment to those who served alongside him.

Sergeant Nicole Amor, who was from Minnesota, also had significant deployment experience. She had previously served in Kuwait and Iraq and was nearing the end of her latest assignment at the time of the attack. Her husband Joey Amor told reporters that the family had not expected danger during the Kuwait deployment, reflecting on the painful reality that she was among the first American casualties of the latest confrontation.

Amor leaves behind two children, a son in high school and a younger daughter in primary school. Friends and family remembered her as someone who loved spending time outdoors with her children, gardening and rollerblading together during family time at home.

Another soldier killed in the strike, Sergeant Noah Tietjens of Nebraska, had been deployed to Kuwait twice before. Described by relatives as a devoted husband and father, Tietjens was also widely respected for his commitment to martial arts training. According to the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance, he had earned a black belt in Taekwondo and trained extensively in Philippine Combatives, a system of martial arts that emphasizes discipline and close-quarters combat skills.

In a tribute posted online, the alliance said Tietjens represented the values of martial arts not only in training but also in the way he lived his life. The organization described him as a person who led with integrity, trained with purpose and taught with humility.

Sergeant Declan Coady, the youngest of the fallen soldiers at 20 years old, had joined the Army Reserve just three years earlier. Originally from Iowa, he served as an information technologies specialist supporting military communications and digital systems. Following his death, the US military announced that he had been posthumously promoted from the rank of specialist to sergeant in recognition of his service.

Coady had studied at Drake University, which released a statement expressing grief over the loss of a young man described as having an exceptionally bright future. His father Andrew Coady told reporters that his son had been highly skilled in his field and had demonstrated remarkable dedication during his short military career.

Members of his family are still struggling to come to terms with the loss. His sister Keira Coady said she continues to find it difficult to believe that he is gone, recalling conversations they had about his plans for the future once he returned home from deployment.

Major Jeffrey O’Brien, another victim of the attack, was from Indianola, Iowa. He joined the Army Reserve in 2012 and had previously been deployed to Kuwait in 2019. His experience and leadership were considered valuable within the unit.

Meanwhile, the identification of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan of Sacramento, California, is still undergoing final confirmation by a medical examiner. Military officials said that although his identity is known, formal procedures must be completed before all details are officially finalised.

Details about the strike itself remain under investigation. According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the facility targeted by the drone was a fortified tactical operations centre. The attack involved what he described as a powerful weapon capable of penetrating defences that were designed to protect personnel.

However, questions have begun to emerge regarding whether the location where the soldiers were working provided sufficient protection against such attacks. Three US military officials familiar with the incident told CBS News that the troops had been operating from what was essentially a makeshift office space.

The officials indicated that the workspace consisted of a trailer surrounded by steel-reinforced concrete barriers. While those barriers are commonly used for protection against blasts or shrapnel, some military analysts have suggested that they may not have been adequate against a direct strike by a high-powered unmanned aerial weapon.

The attack took place in Port Shuaiba, a strategic port area in Kuwait where US military logistics and operational activities are frequently conducted. The United States maintains a longstanding defence partnership with Kuwait, and more than 13,000 American troops are currently stationed in the Gulf country.

The broader regional situation remains tense. Iran has previously responded to military actions against it by launching missile or drone strikes against Gulf nations that maintain close alliances with the United States. Countries including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar have all experienced attacks during periods of heightened confrontation in the region.

Security analysts warn that incidents such as the strike in Kuwait could further intensify instability across the Gulf, where numerous US military bases and strategic facilities operate within range of Iranian missile and drone systems.

For now, the focus in the United States remains on honouring the six soldiers whose lives were lost. Their families, fellow service members and communities across the country are mourning the sudden loss of individuals who had volunteered to serve in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the attack, military leaders have indicated that operational and defensive measures may be reviewed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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