Overview
- An unmanned aircraft struck a tactical operations center at Port Shuaiba on March 1, killing Army Reserve personnel supporting Operation Epic Fury.
- The Defense Department named Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, Sgt. Declan J. Coady, and Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, and said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan is believed to have died pending formal identification.
- All six were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, a logistics unit that supports fuel, food, water, ammunition, and transport for U.S. forces.
- U.S. Central Command’s casualty report evolved from three deaths to six as one wounded service member died and the remains of two previously unaccounted-for soldiers were recovered.
- Tributes poured in from families and state leaders, Coady was posthumously promoted to sergeant, and President Donald Trump cautioned that more U.S. casualties are likely as operations continue.