Iran Missile Strike Wounds 12 US Troops at Saudi Air Base

​RIYADH — A volley of Iranian ballistic missiles and suicide drones slammed into the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, wounding at least 12 American service members and damaging several high-value aircraft. The strike marks one of the most significant breaches of regional air defenses since hostilities erupted last month.

​U.S. officials confirmed that two of the wounded are in serious condition, while the others sustained injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to traumatic brain injuries caused by the concussive force of the blasts. Most of the personnel were reportedly inside a reinforced building when the facility was struck.

​Beyond the human toll, the attack inflicted “significant damage” on the Pentagon’s regional logistics chain. At least two KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes—essential for sustaining the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” over Iranian airspace—were hit. Preliminary reports and unverified satellite imagery also suggest an E-3 Sentry AWACS command-and-control aircraft may have been caught in the debris field.

​The conflict, which began on February 28 following a massive joint U.S.-Israeli preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, has now entered its fifth week. Tehran has vowed “crushing” retaliation against any Gulf nation providing a “launchpad” for Western operations.

​To date, the toll on U.S. forces has been stark:

1.Casualties: 13 service members killed and over 300 wounded since February 28.

2.Iranian Losses: While official figures from Tehran remain suppressed, activist groups estimate over 1,100 Iranian troops have been killed in the relentless bombing campaign.

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3.Regional Impact: Strikes have hit facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and now Saudi Arabia, forcing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to shift some assets as far away as Europe.

​Despite U.S. officials claiming that nearly 90% of Iran’s missile and drone production capacity has been neutralized, Friday’s strike underscores Tehran’s ability to bypass sophisticated defense networks with “disposable” low-cost weaponry.