Attack on Prince Sultan Air Base marks significant breach of US defences amid ongoing war with Iran.
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia-At least 12 US service members were injured, two of them seriously, after Iran launched a combined missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, US officials and media reports said.
The strike, which also damaged several US aerial refueling aircraft, represents one of the most serious incidents involving American forces since the outbreak of the current conflict with Iran in late February 2026. It comes as Tehran continues to fire ballistic missiles and drones at targets across the region, including Israel and US-linked facilities in Gulf countries.
According to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attack involved at least one Iranian ballistic missile and multiple drones that struck the base, which hosts US and Saudi military personnel southeast of Riyadh. Some reports indicated that troops were inside a building when the strike occurred, while others mentioned damage to the runway area and aircraft on the ground. The incident raises the total number of US service members wounded in the war against Iran to more than 300, with the vast majority suffering minor injuries. Thirteen Americans have been killed in the conflict so far, including at least one previous fatality at Prince Sultan Air Base earlier in March.
War enters a more intense phase after a month:
The strike on the Saudi base occurs against the backdrop of a broader US-Israeli military campaign targeting Iranian missile infrastructure, nuclear sites and military installations. Iranian forces have responded with persistent missile barrages, some of which have overwhelmed air defence systems at US and allied positions in the Gulf.
US media outlets, citing defence sources, reported that the attack on Prince Sultan damaged critical assets, including KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes and possibly surveillance aircraft, potentially affecting US air operations supporting strikes on Iran.
Saudi Arabia, which hosts thousands of US troops as part of long-standing security cooperation, has not issued an immediate public comment on the incident. The kingdom has sought to balance its relations with Washington while avoiding direct entanglement in the escalating conflict.
Role of the US in the region:
Prince Sultan Air Base has served as a key hub for US air operations in the Middle East for decades, particularly during periods of heightened tension with Iran. It was reactivated and expanded in recent years to support coalition activities.
The latest casualties add pressure on the US administration as it weighs the scope of its military involvement. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had been “obliterated” in parts of its military capabilities, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that no nation’s military had been neutralised so effectively in history. The fresh attack appears to challenge such assessments.
Iranian state media and affiliated outlets have celebrated the strike, with some releasing footage claiming to show successful hits on the base and describing it as a direct response to US and Israeli aggression.
Effects spreading across the region:
The incident is likely to heighten concerns among Gulf Arab states, many of which host US military facilities and have faced sporadic Iranian threats or proxy attacks in the past. It also underscores the vulnerability of forward-deployed US forces even as air defence systems, including Patriot batteries, are in place.
No immediate details were released on the medical condition of the two seriously wounded troops or the exact extent of aircraft damage. US Central Command has not yet issued an official statement confirming the figures.
As the war enters its second month, both sides show little sign of de-escalation. Iran continues to threaten further retaliation, while the US and Israel press on with operations aimed at degrading Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and other strategic assets.
This latest development could complicate diplomatic efforts, if any, to contain the conflict and prevent it from drawing in more regional actors.