Exclusive footage captured by personnel on the ground has surfaced, documenting Iranian missile and drone strikes against Camp Buehring in Kuwait during the initial stages of the war seven months ago. The video captures the impact of these explosions and the resulting damage to the base’s infrastructure and equipment. Washington — New videos obtained exclusively by show Iranian attacks on a major U.S. military base in Kuwait as the war with Iran kicked off seven months ago. Authenticated the videos using metadata embedded in the files and compared the footage to other photographs showing damage to the base.
Witnesses reported that the attacks involved ballistic missiles, drones, and Iranian F-5 fighter jets. One service member recalled the proximity of the aircraft, stating they could see the pilots’ helmets before the jets launched their assault and departed. These accounts align with previous reports regarding the use of F-5s during the conflict. According to three U.S. service members, Iranian F-5 fighter jets were also used during the attacks, a detail first reported in April by NBC News.
The intensity of these strikes placed significant strain on the remaining American forces. Despite a prior military directive known as the ‘get off the X’ plan—which saw approximately 90% of U.S. personnel relocated from vulnerable positions—a group of over 100 soldiers remained at Camp Buehring. Those present expressed concerns that the installation was ill-prepared for the severity of the sustained attacks. According to ahead of the war, sources, Most of the roughly 7,000 troops there were moved elsewhere — as were the majority of U.S. forces in Kuwait — as a part of the Pentagon’s “get off the X” plan, military shorthand for moving away from a position vulnerable to attack.
Military personnel described the situation as dire, noting that they were forced to abandon the base after running critically low on essential supplies, including.50-caliber ammunition. Defense officials acknowledged internal concerns regarding the availability of critical munitions, such as Patriot missile batteries, during this period.
Following the decision to retreat, soldiers loaded vehicles with equipment under the cover of darkness and moved into the Udari Desert, establishing temporary forward operating bases. While no casualties resulted from enemy fire at these locations, two soldiers sustained injuries in late April when they were struck by lightning during desert storms, resulting in burns and a ruptured eardrum.
By May, the remaining troops were successfully relocated to Camp Arifjan before being redeployed to other positions within or outside the Middle East. Some service members have since questioned the lack of reinforcements during the height of the engagement, calling for a formal investigation into the loss of the base.
The Pentagon declined to provide specific comment on the footage, referring instead to statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 4. Hegseth had emphasized that the strategic removal of the vast majority of U.S. troops was intended to protect personnel from Iranian fire as offensive combat power was developed. But pointed back to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments on March 4 regarding the removal of U.S. troops from bases and the employment of defensive measures, the Pentagon did not comment.
The broader impact of the conflict on U.S. military assets has been significant. A report released last month by the Defense Department’s inspector general estimated equipment losses totaling $3.7 billion, including nearly 60 aircraft. Additional data from the Congressional Research Service indicates that 81 fixed or rotary-wing aircraft and drones have been damaged or lost since February.
The inspector general’s report further highlighted that U.S. Central Command had logged Iranian strikes against American bases across multiple nations, including Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. While documentation of these sites has been limited, visual evidence has previously emerged regarding damage at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base and Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan.
Camp Buehring has served as a central staging ground for U.S. forces deploying throughout the Middle East for over two decades. The recent disclosures add to the ongoing scrutiny of the war’s deadliest incidents, such as the strike at the Port of Shuaiba, which resulted in the deaths of six American service members. Or CBKU, sits about 25 miles from the Iraqi border and has for more than two decades served as a major staging ground for American forces deploying across the Middle East, camp Buehring.
