Iran Strikes Saudi Base, Injuring U.S. Troops Amid Middle East Military Buildup
Iran launched a large strike on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base on Friday. The assault used six ballistic missiles and 29 drones.
The attack wounded U.S. service members. Two briefed officials said at least 15 troops were hurt, five seriously. Earlier U.S. statements said at least 10 service members were injured, including two with serious wounds.
The episode described as Iran Strikes Saudi Base, Injuring U.S. Troops Amid Middle East Military Buildup unfolded as U.S. forces continued to pour into the region. Military leaders reported new deployments and additional assets arriving.
Details of the assaults
The Saudi base was struck multiple times over the week. One earlier incident wounded 14 U.S. troops, according to briefed sources.
Another attack that week damaged a U.S. aircraft but caused no injuries. The installation sits about 96 kilometers from Riyadh. It is operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force and used by U.S. personnel.
U.S. military buildup
The USS Tripoli arrived carrying roughly 2,500 Marines. Its elements belong to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and were based in Japan.
The Tripoli brought transport and strike fighter aircraft. It also provided amphibious assault capabilities. The ship had been conducting exercises near Taiwan before the redeployment almost two weeks earlier.
Additional forces have been ordered from San Diego. The USS Boxer and two other ships left with another Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Before these movements, the U.S. had its largest regional footprint in over two decades. That force included two aircraft carriers, several warships, and about 50,000 troops.
Casualties and combat losses
Central Command reported more than 300 U.S. service members wounded in the conflict. Most have returned to duty.
Thirty troops remain out of action. Ten are classified as seriously wounded. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed since the fighting began.
One service member, Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, was wounded during a March 1 strike on the Saudi base and died days later. Six others were killed when an Iranian drone struck a port operations center in Kuwait.
Another six service members died in a refueling plane crash in Iraq. The military said that crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
Political and regional fallout
Officials say Iran has struck Israel and neighboring Gulf states in response to U.S. and Israeli actions. The fighting has disrupted global flights and oil exports.
Commercial fuel prices have risen. Iran’s threats to the Strait of Hormuz have increased economic pressure worldwide.
President Donald Trump said talks on ending the war were progressing and set an April 6 deadline for Tehran to reopen the strait. Iran said it has not entered negotiations.
Commentary and sources
James Jeffrey, a former deputy national security adviser, noted the low U.S. casualty numbers given the volume of Iranian fire. He said Iran’s aim appears to be economic harm to U.S. allies and the global economy.
The Pentagon did not immediately reply to requests for comment about the Saudi base casualties. Reporting contributions came from correspondents in Cairo and Washington. Filmogaz.com compiled this report from those accounts.
