ICYMI: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM SECRETARY HEGSETH ON PORT SHUAIBA DRONE STRIKE

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Congressman Pat Ryan Demands Accountability from Secretary Hegseth on Port Shuaiba Drone Strike

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WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Pat Ryan, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Tuesday questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the Iranian drone strike on U.S. troops at Port Shuaiba, which killed six soldiers and wounded 30 others on March 1. Ryan pushed Hegseth on why he characterized the attack as a "squirter that makes its way through" and claimed Port Shuaiba's defenses were fortified, directly contradicting firsthand accounts from survivors.

"'Head wounds, heavy bleeding…and then just shrapnel all over, so folks are bleeding from their abdomen, bleeding from arms, bleeding from legs.' Secretary Hegseth, do you know who said that," Ryan asked Hegseth. "That was one of our Soldiers, describing the devastating Iranian drone strike on Port Shuaiba, March 1st, in Kuwait. As you know six of our soldiers killed, over 30 wounded."

As reported in CBS News, Ryan detailed the ways in which Port Shuaiba was indefensible from aerial attack: "In fact, when asked to describe the base's defense, one survivor who's come forward from the unit said, quote, 'I mean, I would put it in the none category. From a drone defense capability…NONE.' So let's be clear: No counter drone capabilities. No counter rocket systems. No counter mortar or counter artillery. Not even the basic overhead protection that you and I had when we were in Iraq almost 20 years ago. And now six of our soldiers are dead."

Ryan continued: "Brave survivors have come forward to set the record straight. One of our surviving soldiers told CBS, quote 'Painting a picture that 'one squeaked through' is a falsehood.' Another said the unit was quote 'unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.' Another survivor said the building's protection was 'about as weak as one gets.' Secretary Hegseth, that is obviously in direct contradiction to what you said from the Pentagon podium the next day. So are you saying these soldiers, our soldiers who survived this horrific attack are lying?"

Ryan concluded: "Now, I want to finish with one more quote from a survivor of the attack - and I want this on the record - 'telling the truth is important; and we're not going to learn from these mistakes if we pretend these mistakes didn't happen.' Secretary Hegseth, those soldiers told the truth. Those soldiers are braver than you are. They are asking for accountability. They deserve accountability, and I'm asking for the same - starting with you. As I said a year ago, you need to resign immediately."

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