The Wall Street Journal reported on the 13th that an Iranian attack targeted Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, resulting in damage to five US military aerial refueling tankers. The aircraft stationed at the facility were hit during missile strikes launched by Iran.
Reports indicate that while the tankers sustained significant damage, none were completely destroyed. Technical teams are currently conducting repairs on the affected aircraft. No casualties were reported following the missile barrage on the installation.
Rising military aircraft losses
This latest incident brings the total number of US aerial refueling tankers damaged or destroyed to at least seven since hostilities involving the US, Israel, and Iran escalated on the 28th of last month. These losses include a separate fatal incident that occurred on the 12th.
In that earlier event, two US Air Force KC-135 tankers collided mid-air over western Iraq. The collision caused one aircraft to crash, resulting in the deaths of all six personnel on board. The total number of US military fatalities since the start of the conflict has now reached 13.
Central Command and presidential response
Central Command issued a statement regarding the mid-air collision, noting that the cause is still under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the crash was not the result of enemy fire or a friendly fire incident.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing conflict through his social media platform, Truth Social. The president stated that the US is systematically dismantling the Iranian regime across military and economic sectors. He claimed that Iran’s naval and air forces have been effectively neutralized.
The president further asserted that Iran’s military assets, including missiles and drones, are being destroyed while the leadership has been removed. He characterized these actions as a response to decades of global violence attributed to the Iranian regime.
