An Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia reportedly wounded at least 12 U.S. troops on Friday, two of them seriously, U.S. officials said.
The strike also damaged several U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft at the key facility supporting regional operations.
The attack came as Iran retaliated against ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, marking one of the more significant breaches of U.S. defenses since the conflict began in late February.
The Pentagon has not released an official casualty statement, but multiple reports citing U.S. officials confirmed the injuries and aircraft damage. The base in Saudi Arabia has served as a hub for U.S. air operations in the region. At least one earlier attack on the same base in early March resulted in the death of a U.S. service member days later, reported The Boston Globe.
President Donald Trump, speaking Friday evening at the Future Investment Initiative Priority Summit in Miami, said, “Tonight, we’re closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror, aggression, and nuclear blackmail.”
Trump continued, adding, “Under my leadership, America is ending the threat posed by this radical regime, decimating Iran’s capabilities with Operation Epic Fury. … For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East. But they are not the bully any longer. They are on the run.”
Trump also described Iran as “begging to make a deal” and joked about referring to the blocked Strait of Hormuz as the “Strait of Trump” before correcting himself. He praised the results of the ongoing campaign, stating the U.S. military had delivered “spectacular” outcomes against Iranian capabilities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 counterparts that the U.S. remains “ahead of schedule” on most objectives in the conflict and that many goals could be met “without any ground troops.” He indicated the conflict could continue for “weeks, not months,” CBC News reported. G7 foreign ministers resisted calls for troops to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, citing risks of escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains largely closed to certain traffic amid the fighting, driving oil prices above $100 per barrel, as The Dallas Express previously reported. Trump has extended deadlines for Iran to reopen the waterway, warning of further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure if it does not comply. Iran has denied engaging in direct negotiations while releasing images of damage from U.S.-Israeli strikes.
U.S. Central Command continues to press its campaign against Iranian regime targets under Operation Epic Fury, with imagery released Friday showing sustained air and naval operations across the Middle East. An F-16 Fighting Falcon touched down at a regional base after a combat sortie, while the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group transited the Arabian Sea, underscoring the massive projection of American firepower now in its fourth week.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon lands at a base in the Middle East after a combat flight in support of Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/5ygl0gO3q3
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 27, 2026
CENTCOM reported that U.S. forces have struck more than 10,000 targets since the operation launched at the end of February on presidential orders, focusing on dismantling the Iranian regime’s command infrastructure, air defenses, missile sites, and naval assets.
Recent strikes included A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft hitting Iranian vessels, with F-15E, F-35, F-22, and B-52 platforms also actively engaged in combat missions. A video update from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on March 25 highlighted ongoing efforts to neutralize imminent threats, even as the command acknowledged U.S. casualties and injuries in the fight.
The operation reflects one of the largest concentrations of U.S. military assets in the region in decades, with carrier flight operations and mid-air refuelings continuing around the clock to maintain pressure on Tehran’s security apparatus. No immediate end to major combat actions was signaled in the latest CENTCOM posts.
