RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Iranian missiles and drones struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, wounding at least 10 U.S. service members, two of them seriously, and damaging several American refueling aircraft, U.S. officials said.
The attack targeted the base, located about 60 miles southeast of Riyadh, which hosts U.S. troops and air assets supporting operations in the region. Officials familiar with the situation described the strike as involving at least one ballistic missile and multiple unmanned drones. The wounded troops received medical treatment at the base, with the two most seriously injured evacuated for further care.
The incident occurred amid the ongoing conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. and allied positions across the Middle East, including previous strikes that caused casualties at bases in other Gulf countries. Prince Sultan Air Base has served as a key hub for U.S. forces, supporting air operations, Patriot missile defenses and other capabilities.
Iran has maintained restrictions on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since early March, sharply reducing traffic in the waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil trade. The country has allowed only limited approved transits while issuing threats against vessels linked to adversaries. President Donald Trump extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the strait to April 6, citing backchannel discussions, but warned of potential further action against Iranian energy infrastructure if the closure persists.
U.S. troop levels in the region have increased in recent weeks, with additional deployments including Marines aboard amphibious ships and preparations for Army units. The strike at Prince Sultan comes as Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on targets in Tehran and other Iranian locations earlier this week.
As of Saturday morning, U.S. Central Command had not released a detailed public statement on the casualties or damage assessment. Saudi authorities also had not commented officially on the attack. The Pentagon continued to monitor Iranian missile and drone activity while supporting medical care for the injured and assessing defensive measures at regional bases. Diplomatic contacts through intermediaries remained active amid the broader conflict.