Kandahar Air Field: What Life Is Like under Fire in a Forward-Deployed U.S. Base

A drone attack launched by the so-called Islamic Resistance struck a U.S. base known as Tower 22 in which three soldiers (Kennedy Sanders, Breonna Moffett, and William Rivers) were killed and at least another 40 injured — and there was a follow-up attack on our outpost Al-Shaddadi in Syria 220 miles northeast of that desolate bit of Jordan. The reporting has covered most of the essential components: Here’s more about the fallen; here’s a cartographical tally of military events since October 7; here’s a summary of what transpired at Tower 22.

What we don’t know yet is why the hostile drone, which is reported to have been mistaken for a U.S. drone returning to the base, was not identified with enough time to either destroy it, divert it, or get soldiers, who appear to have died in their barracks (trailers), to better cover.

About the Author

Luther Ray Abel

Luther Ray Abel is an Associate Editor for National Review. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Luther is a proud native of Sheboygan, Wis.

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A drone attack launched by the so-called Islamic Resistance struck a U.S. base known as Tower 22 in which three soldiers (Kennedy Sanders, Breonna Moffett, and William Rivers) were killed and at least another 40 injured — and there was a follow-up attack on our outpost Al-Shaddadi in Syria 220 miles northeast of that desolate bit of Jordan. The reporting has covered most of the essential components: Here’s more about the fallen; here’s a cartographical tally of military events since October 7; here’s a summary of what transpired at Tower 22.

What we don’t know yet is why the hostile drone, which is reported to have been mistaken for a U.S. drone returning to the base, was not identified with enough time to either destroy it, divert it, or get soldiers, who appear to have died in their barracks (trailers), to better cover.