U.S. military officials have confirmed that six American service members were killed during attacks linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran, part of the military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
The announcement was made by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations across the Middle East and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
According to military reports, the casualties occurred when an Iranian drone strike hit a tactical operations center at a U.S. military facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during heightened regional tensions following the escalation of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The U.S. Department of Defense has officially identified four of the six fallen service members after their families were notified. The soldiers are:
- Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, from Winter Haven, Florida
- Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, from Bellevue, Nebraska
- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, from White Bear Lake, Minnesota
- Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, from West Des Moines, Iowa
All four soldiers were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command of the U.S. Army Reserve, based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Military officials reported that the service members were killed on March 1, 2026, during the drone attack while supporting ongoing operations in the region.
The identities of the other two service members killed in the attack have not yet been released as authorities continue the notification process for their families.
Defense leaders and military officials have paid tribute to the fallen troops, describing them as dedicated service members who served with honor during a critical mission.
The deaths mark some of the first American military fatalities reported since the conflict escalated in the Middle East.
Operation Epic Fury remains ongoing as U.S. forces continue military operations in the region.
Officials have warned that the situation remains volatile, with continuing missile and drone threats targeting U.S. bases and allied facilities across the Middle East.
Communities in Florida, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa have begun honoring the memory of Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, remembering their service and sacrifice while deployed overseas.
