Twelve American service members were wounded, two seriously, when Iranian forces struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones on Friday, according to U.S. officials. The attack damaged several aerial refueling aircraft and represents the latest escalation in a conflict that began February 28.
The wounded soldiers were inside a building when the Iranian strike hit the base, which has been targeted multiple times since the war began. Saudi Arabia has previously intercepted several missiles fired near the facility, but this attack successfully penetrated defenses.
The casualties add to a growing toll of American military personnel injured in the monthlong conflict. More than 300 U.S. service members have been wounded since fighting began, though 273 have already returned to duty. Thirteen American troops have been killed, including Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, who died from wounds sustained in a March 1 attack on the same base.
Iran has maintained retaliatory strikes against Gulf nations it accuses of serving as launch platforms for U.S. operations. The joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28, prompting Tehran to target American positions throughout the region.
The attack comes despite recent claims by senior U.S. officials about Iranian military capabilities. The strike occurred one day after President Donald Trump stated Iran had been obliterated and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that never in recorded history had a nation's military been so quickly neutralized.
NPR provides factual reporting on the attack, noting Iranian targeting of U.S. bases throughout the region. The coverage focuses on casualty numbers and aircraft damage without editorial commentary.