The hidden footage
New, exclusive video obtained by CBS News is giving us a raw look at the opening days of the war with Iran. The clips, recorded by someone on the ground, show direct missile and drone strikes hitting Camp Buehring in Kuwait. Witnesses even reported Iranian F-5 fighter jets flying so close that they could see the pilots' helmets.
Moving "off the X"
Before the conflict, the Pentagon enacted a plan called "get off the X" to move troops away from vulnerable targets. While most of the 7,000 soldiers stationed there relocated, over 100 stayed behind to hold the line. It wasn't exactly a W; these service members were left feeling isolated, and at one point, they were running low on critical .50-caliber ammo and defensive munitions like Patriot missiles.
The reality on the ground
Conditions were lowkey chaotic. With the base taking heavy fire, troops eventually had to pack up and flee into the Udari Desert under the cover of night, turning their vehicles into makeshift forward operating bases. While no soldiers were killed by enemy fire, two were struck by lightning during a desert storm, causing burns and a ruptured eardrum. By May, all remaining troops had relocated to other positions.
The aftermath
Recent government reports are spilling the tea on the scale of the damage. A report from the Defense Department’s inspector general suggests we lost up to $3.7 billion in equipment, including nearly 60 aircraft. Congressional analysis puts that loss even higher, at 81 aircraft and drone assets.
Why it matters
For months, visual evidence of these strikes has been super limited. This footage finally confirms the scale of the destruction at one of America's key staging grounds in the Middle East, highlighting just how close some of our troops came to being totally overwhelmed.
