Crow Demands Answers on Protection of U.S. Forces in the Middle East

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, is calling for an investigation into the deaths of the six servicemembers who were tragically killed during an Iranian attack in Kuwait on March 1, 2026. Crow is also demanding that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth explain how they’re enhancing protections for all servicemembers as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.

Testimony from servicemembers injured in the attack and public reporting claims that U.S. troops were not properly protected against known and predictable Iranian capabilities, directly contradicting Secretary Hegseth’s accounting of the incident.

"President Trump's reckless decision to start a war with Iran has claimed the lives of American servicemembers and injured hundreds more, said Congressman Crow. “The Commander in Chief launched a war of choice with no plan, no strategy, and no end game. The American people deserve answers on how the Trump Administration plans to end this conflict and protect our servicemembers overseas.”

Joining Congressman Crow on this letter calling for an investigation are 12 House Democratic veterans, including Representatives Pat Ryan (D-NY), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA).

“Brave servicemembers have come forward detailing the reality on the ground. One servicemember injured in the attack explicitly called the Department’s characterization a ‘falsehood,' saying ‘the unit… was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.’ When asked specifically what fortifications were in place, another servicemember replied, ‘I would put it in the “none” category, from a drone defense capability…none,’” the Representatives wrote.

They continued: “We remain deeply concerned about the broader implications for U.S. force posture and protection across the region. The evolving threat environment, particularly the proliferation of low-cost, low-altitude drones capable of evading traditional air defense systems, demands urgent attention. Especially as it relates to the safety and security of our 50,000+ servicemembers deployed to the CENTCOM AOR.”

Crow has repeatedly condemned Trump’s illegal war of choice in Iran. As an Army Ranger who grew up in a working-class family and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow saw firsthand the repercussions of forever wars on servicemembers and hard-working Americans. He voted to reclaim Congressional authority over war with Iran and has demanded answers on recent civilian deaths, including a U.S. strike on an Iranian girls’ elementary school where at least 175 civilians, many of them children, were killed.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:

Dear Secretary Hegseth,

We write to demand a formal, immediate investigation into the deaths of six U.S. servicemembers killed in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, during operations associated with the war in Iran. Congress must be kept fully and promptly informed of the investigation’s progress and any emerging findings. 

Based on direct testimony from servicemembers injured in the attack and public reporting, it is clear that there was a deadly failure to protect our troops from known and predictable Iranian capabilities. As the Department and the President continue to amass U.S. troops and assets in the region without an end in sight, it is essential that we prioritize the safety of troops deployed in theater. 

In addition to your failure to protect our troops, you, Secretary Hegseth, have also misled the public about the circumstances of the attack and failed to take accountability for the deaths of these brave men and women. 

In a press briefing you characterized the attack as “a squirter” that hit a “fortified” tactical operations center. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the command post was a “secure facility” that was “fortified with 6-foot walls.” Despite these claims, we know these fatalities were in fact the result of a failure to provide sufficient overhead protection against known and predictable one-way attack drone threats. 

Brave servicemembers have come forward detailing the reality on the ground. One servicemember injured in the attack explicitly called the Department’s characterization a “falsehood,” saying “the unit… was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.” When asked specifically what fortifications were in place, another servicemember replied, “I would put it in the ‘none’ category, from a drone defense capability … none.” 

These reports raise serious questions about the adequacy of force protection measures in theater, particularly in the face of increasingly sophisticated and persistent unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats.

In addition to including all physical evidence, operational data, first-hand accounts, and after-action reviews, please ensure your investigation also addresses the following questions: 

1. Was the threat of Iranian drone strikes on U.S. military sites and personnel assessed prior to the conflict? 
2. Why was overhead force protection not accounted for at the operations center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait? 
3. Has overhead force protection been accounted for on the other 19 military sites in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) and across U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)?
4. Was the force protection posture based on previous in-theater operations with outdated or insufficient information? 
5. What are the preliminary findings regarding vulnerabilities in base infrastructure, including overhead protection and hardened facilities? 
6. How systemic and widespread were these targeting operations? How many Iranian drones have penetrated our defenses? Please provide any information on other Iranian drone or aerial incursions. 
7. What accountability measures are being considered in light of findings to date?

We remain deeply concerned about the broader implications for U.S. force posture and protection across the region. The evolving threat environment, particularly the proliferation of low-cost, low-altitude drones capable of evading traditional air defense systems, demands urgent attention. Especially as it relates to the safety and security of our 50,000+ servicemembers deployed to the CENTCOM AOR.

Accordingly, we also request information on the steps the Department of Defense is taking to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, including:

1. Enhancements to counter-UAS capabilities at forward-deployed locations;
2. Improvements to early warning systems and detection of low-flying drones;
3. Efforts to harden facilities and provide adequate overhead protection for critical operational and living spaces;
4. Adjustments to force posture, dispersal, or basing strategies to mitigate risk;
5. Coordination with partner nations to strengthen integrated air and missile defense in the region.

The loss of these servicemembers is a profound tragedy, and we owe it to them, their families, and all those currently serving to ensure that every possible measure is taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and request a written response delivered to Congress no later than May 22, 2026.

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