The Pentagon identified one more soldier killed during the Iranian drone strike on a base in Kuwait on Thursday, bringing the total to five out of the six soldiers killed who have already identified by the Department of Defense forensic medics.
According to their release, Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa, who was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa, was one of the soldiers killed during the incident at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack.
He was killed alongside Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. First Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. First Class Nicole M. Amor, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, who were identified by the army on Tuesday.
The US Army announced that it was working to identify the sixth casualty, which is believed to be Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan.
Three US soldiers killed in Yemen bring total deaths to 9 since Operation Epic Fury began
Three US soldiers were killed and five others seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury in Yemen, US Central Command said in a statement on Sunday.
The announcement confirmed that major combat operations were ongoing as American forces continued strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets.
According to CENTCOM, several additional personnel sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty. The US military said the situation remains fluid as operations continue in the region.
The casualties come amid an intensified US-Israel offensive targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, missile systems, and command centers. Washington coordinated with Jerusalem in a series of strikes designed to degrade Tehran’s strategic capabilities and counter threats to regional security.
Reuters contributed to this report.