E3 Sentry: Tehran strikes military base in Saudi Arabia after Israel hits Iranian nuclear facilities
e3 sentry — At least 15 American soldiers were wounded after Iran launched a combined ballistic missile and drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday (ET). The attack struck buildings and damaged refuelling aircraft at the base roughly 96km from Riyadh, a site used by the Royal Saudi Air Force and by American forces. Tehran framed the action as retaliation after recent strikes on Iranian facilities, deepening a month-long cycle of strikes and counterstrikes.
E3 Sentry: Damage and casualties at Prince Sultan
Military statements and battlefield accounts list at least six ballistic missiles and 29 drones used in the strike; the assault hit personnel quarters and aircraft on the ground. At least 15 US service members were wounded in the attack, with five of those in serious condition. One account states some of the injured were inside a building when it was struck.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s central military headquarters, said in a video statement that one refuelling aircraft was “completely destroyed” and that three others were damaged and put out of service. The base has been targeted repeatedly since the wider campaign began, and an earlier strike this week wounded 14 US soldiers.
Immediate reactions and official statements
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s central military headquarters, said the strike damaged multiple refuelling aircraft and asserted the action was part of Iran’s sustained retaliation campaign. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said a separate strike on the Bushehr nuclear power plant caused no material damage, that there were no casualties, and that no technical disruption was reported.
The attack on Prince Sultan follows a pattern of tit-for-tat operations after a joint assault that began the current phase of the conflict on February 28. U. S. military commands did not immediately issue a public comment on the latest injuries or the equipment damage. The base, located about 96km from Riyadh, is run by the Royal Saudi Air Force and also hosts American personnel supporting missile defence and logistics operations.
An activist group, HRANA, provided a tally of Iranian military casualties earlier in the campaign, noting losses and personnel status that add to the human cost on both sides. The ongoing exchanges have already produced multiple American service member casualties in the theater since the wider conflict began.
What happens next: escalation risks and next moves
Commanders and regional officials are likely to reassess force protection and base posture after this strike; Pentagon and US Central Command have not issued immediate public statements on the attack or the reported injuries. Analysts and on-the-ground reporters note limited transparency about Iranian strike assessments but highlight that the number of injuries underscores the seriousness of the attack.
e3 sentry remains a flashpoint in a campaign that has seen repeated attacks on bases used by American forces and on Iranian infrastructure. Expect heightened alerts at regional facilities, additional diplomatic engagement, and further statements from military spokespeople as investigators verify the full extent of damage and casualties. The next 24 to 72 hours (ET) will be critical for confirming wounded service-member conditions, aircraft repair status, and any planned operational changes at Prince Sultan Air Base as commanders respond to the strike.
e3 sentry will continue to be central to coverage as officials update casualty figures and technical assessments, and as regional actors weigh responses to the latest escalation.
