New Footage Reveals Intensity of Iranian Strike on US Base in Kuwait

Newly obtained video footage, acquired exclusively by CBS News, provides the first visual evidence of Iranian military strikes against Camp Buehring, a major United States military installation in Kuwait. The attacks occurred during the initial phase of the war with Iran, which began seven months ago, revealing the severity of threats faced by American troops stationed at the base.

Recorded by an individual on the ground, the footage captures the moments of impact and the explosive aftermath of the assault. American forces were subjected to ballistic missile barrages, drone swarms, and what witnesses described as low-flying Iranian F-5 fighter jets. The videos also document significant damage to both infrastructure and military equipment within the compound.

CBS News authenticated the videos by analyzing embedded metadata and cross-referenced the imagery with other photographs showing destruction at the base. The release of these visuals offers insight into the operational strain placed on U.S. forces during the war’s early days, particularly regarding ammunition shortages and tactical repositioning.

According to U.S. officials with knowledge of the situation, soldiers defending the base faced critical shortages of .50-caliber ammunition. Additionally, some troops were relocated into the Udari Desert, where two soldiers were injured by lightning during late April storms. Contacted regarding the reports, U.S. Central Command declined to comment, while the Pentagon directed inquiry to previous statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 4.

Hegseth had stated that as offensive combat power was built up, over 90% of troops were moved off the X—military terminology for positions vulnerable to enemy fire—to reduce exposure to Iranian attacks.

Located approximately 25 miles from the Iraqi border, Camp Buehring has served as a primary staging ground for American deployments across the Middle East for more than two decades. Prior to the outbreak of war, intelligence sources indicated that the majority of the roughly 7,000 troops stationed there, along with most U.S. forces in Kuwait, were relocated as part of this defensive strategy.

Once hostilities commenced, Iranian attacks originating from Iraq repeatedly endangered the installation, forcing soldiers into bunkers. Three U.S. service members told CBS News that Iranian F-5 fighter jets were utilized during the assaults, a detail initially reported by NBC News in April. One eyewitness described the planes coming in extremely low, noting they could see the pilots’ helmets.

While most personnel were evacuated, a contingent of more than 100 soldiers remained behind. These service members feared the isolated base lacked the capacity to handle a mass-casualty incident if attacks persisted. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to strict military media restrictions, one source described the severity of the bombardment.

“They hit us bad,” the source said. “It was horrible. There were a lot of brave guys who stayed to fight there — and people at home don’t know what happened. We had to abandon the base.”

A senior Army logistics official confirmed concerns over the availability of .50-caliber rounds and other specialized munitions, such as Patriot missile batteries. Consequently, the decision was made to withdraw. Soldiers packed their vehicles with available equipment and drove at night into the deep Kuwaiti desert, establishing remote forward operating bases (FOBs).

No personnel were killed by enemy fire at Camp Buehring or the subsequent FOBs, though several were injured. In addition to the lightning strikes, one soldier suffered burns and another a ruptured eardrum. By May, the troops departed the FOBs for Camp Arifjan and were later relocated to positions throughout and outside the Middle East.

The surviving soldier criticized the lack of reinforcements, stating, “CBKU got demolished. They need to do an investigation. How come no one came to reinforce us?”

These events coincide with broader reports on war losses. Last month, the Defense Department’s inspector general released a report revealing equipment losses valued at up to $3.7 billion, including nearly 60 aircraft. Additionally, a Congressional Research Service report indicated that 81 fixed or rotary-wing aircraft and drone assets had been lost or damaged by Iran since February.

The inspector general’s mandatory report to Congress noted that U.S. Central Command had documented Iranian strikes at bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. However, visual evidence of impact zones has remained scarce. Beyond Camp Buehring, CBS News has previously published exclusive photos of damage at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, as well as extensive coverage of the deadliest attack of the war at the Port of Shuaiba, which claimed six American lives.