Five US Refuelling Jets Struck, Damag£d By A!rstrikes In Saudi Arabia
Five US Refuelling Jets Struck, Damaged By Airstrikes In Saudi Arabia
The report stated that the planes were “damaged in the attacks but were not destroyed.”
Five United States Air Force refuelling planes were struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports.
The report stated that the planes were “damaged in the attacks but were not destroyed.”
According to WSJ, “no one was killed in these attacks,” and the aircraft “is currently undergoing repairs.”
The development comes just two days after a US refueling plane was shot down by an Iran-backed Islamic resistance group in western Iraq, resulting in “the deaths of six crew members.”
The back-to-back incidents highlight growing tensions in the region and raise concerns about the safety of US operations in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The attacks on Prince Sultan Air Base underscore the vulnerability of even heavily defended military installations to targeted strikes.
US military officials are reportedly reviewing security measures and conducting assessments to prevent further incidents.
The sequence of events — from the deadly shootdown in Iraq to the damage to five additional aircraft in Saudi Arabia — marks a significant escalation, prompting questions about potential retaliation and the overall readiness of US forces stationed in the Gulf.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the deaths of all six crew members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker following a catastrophic mid-air collision with another aircraft over Western Iraq.
The tragedy, which occurred on Thursday during the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury,” brings the total number of American service members killed in action during the current regional escalation to 13.
The incident took place during a high-stakes refuelling mission on Thursday.
While initial reports were vague regarding the cause of the crash, military officials have now confirmed that a mid-air collision with a second aircraft led to the total loss of the Stratotanker.
In a statement shared on X handle, CENTCOM, stated: “All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
“The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.”
While the second aircraft involved was reportedly able to land safely, the KC-135 was completely destroyed upon impact. Although four bodies were recovered earlier in the search-and-rescue operation, the remaining two crew members have now been officially moved from “missing” to “confirmed deceased.”
The loss marks one of the deadliest single incidents for U.S. forces since the start of the conflict on February 28. Operation Epic Fury was launched in response to regional threats, but it has seen a rapid increase in American casualties as hostilities with Iranian-aligned forces intensify across Iraq, Syria, and the Persian Gulf.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is the cornerstone of U.S. power projection in the Middle East. By providing mid-air refueling, these “flying gas stations” allow combat jets and surveillance drones to stay airborne for extended durations.
The loss of a full crew and aircraft represents a significant blow to the logistics of the current military campaign.
The Department of Defense has entered the final stages of the 24-hour notification window for the families of the fallen.
