Iranian Attacks Force US Troops to Abandon Major Kuwait Base, CBS News Reports

WASHINGTON: US forces were forced to abandon most of their positions at Camp Buehring in Kuwait after the military base came under repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks, according to an investigation by CBS News.

New footage obtained and authenticated by CBS News shows Iranian strikes hitting the major US military installation, causing damage to buildings and military equipment.

The report said American troops faced ballistic missiles and drones during the opening days of the war, while US service members also described attacks involving Iranian F-5 fighter jets.

As the attacks continued, soldiers defending the base faced shortages of .50-calibre ammunition and other critical military supplies, including Patriot missile batteries, according to US officials cited by CBS News.

Most of the roughly 7,000 US troops previously stationed at Camp Buehring had already been moved elsewhere before the war as part of the Pentagon’s effort to reposition forces away from locations vulnerable to Iranian attacks.

More than 100 soldiers remained at the base after the conflict began. They were eventually moved into temporary positions deep in the Kuwaiti desert after concerns grew over the base’s ability to withstand further attacks.

The troops later moved to other facilities, including Camp Arifjan, before being relocated to positions inside and outside the region.

No US service member was killed by enemy fire at Camp Buehring or the temporary desert positions, although several soldiers were injured later, including two who were struck by lightning during a desert storm.

Camp Buehring has served for decades as a major staging area for US forces operating across the Middle East and is located around 25 miles from the Iraqi border.

The developments highlight the pressure Iranian missile and drone attacks have placed on US military positions across the Gulf during the conflict.