Hegseth and veteran Democrats clash over deadly Iran attack in Kuwait

Published April 29, 2026 2:48pm ET | Updated April 29, 2026 2:48pm ET



Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and House lawmakers got into a heated debate over the Iranian drone attack that killed six American service members in Kuwait in the early hours of the war.

It was only hours into the war when an Iranian drone hit the tactical operation center in Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, killing six and injuring more than 20 others. Some of the service members who survived the attack raised concerns that the center did not have the necessary defenses to protect from the threat of drones, which was the subject of the dispute during Wednesday’s hearing.

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