Debris from an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile injured about five Americans and damaged two MQ-9 Reaper drones at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base on May 30, Bloomberg reported on June 19. The strike is the latest in a series of Iranian retaliatory actions during the 2026 conflict that a Britannica overview said has resulted in 13 US deaths, more than 400 wounded and the loss or damage of over 42 aircraft mostly drones.
According to the Bloomberg report, Kuwaiti defenses intercepted the incoming Fateh-110 missile but debris from the explosion caused the injuries and equipment damage at the base 40 miles northwest of Kuwait City. The publication stated that one MQ-9 was destroyed and a second sustained serious damage while five US soldiers and contractors suffered minor injuries. The full extent of the injuries was not detailed. This was at least the second attack on the base following an April drone strike that wounded 15 Americans according to a Wikipedia compilation of conflict events.
The Ali Al Salem Air Base is home to the US Air Force’s 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which has conducted MQ-9 Reaper operations from the site for more than a decade. An Air Force Central Command article from 2019 described the preparation of Reapers for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at the facility. The Reaper is capable of carrying munitions and maintaining flight for extended periods as noted in a 2021 Central Command release. The wing operates in conjunction with Kuwaiti air forces at the installation that has hosted coalition partners since the 1991 Gulf War according to base history records.
The strike occurred within the framework of Operation Epic Fury, the US code name for the February 28, 2026, initiation of nearly 900 strikes on Iran in coordination with Israel. Britannica reported that those strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with other officials and prompted Iranian retaliation with missiles and drones against US and allied positions throughout the region. The attacks included strikes on facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. More than 1,000 people have died across multiple countries in the fighting with millions displaced the overview stated.
US forces have faced significant equipment losses in addition to personnel casualties with the 42 aircraft figure encompassing a range of drone types similar to the affected MQ-9s at Ali Al Salem. The person familiar with the incident who spoke to Bloomberg confirmed the destruction of one drone and heavy damage to another. The base returned to Kuwaiti government control after major operations but the US maintains a presence there through the expeditionary wing. Historical accounts place the base’s involvement in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom with various international partners.
A memorandum of understanding was announced on June 14 for signing on June 19 to bring a formal end to the conflict within 60 days according to the Britannica summary. The Pakistani-mediated negotiations have addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports. President Trump has indicated that he would decide on the peace deal and related measures in the coming period. The May 30 strike took place against this backdrop of active diplomacy aimed at de-escalation.
