A missile and drone offensive against Prince Sultan Air Base left U.S. service members injured and hit aircraft critical to surveillance, air command and aerial refueling in the Middle East.
Public reports differ on the total number of injured, citing at least 10 and possibly 12.
An Iranian attack with missiles and drones on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 27 struck one of the main hubs of the US air presence in the Middle East and left US service members injured. In addition to the casualties, the offensive also damaged aircraft of high strategic value, including an E-3 Sentry AWACS and aerial refueling tankers.
Reports published so far vary on the total number of injured. The Associated Press reported that at least 10 soldiers were injured in the attack, two of them seriously, while Reuters spoke of 12 injuries, also with two serious cases. Air & Space Forces wrote that the attack included at least one rocket hit on the base, in addition to the use of multiple drones.
The severity of the incident is increasing as Prince Sultan Air Base is used as a focal point for surveillance, command and control and refueling operations in the region.
The damage to one E-3 Sentry attracts attention because it is an essential platform for air early warning, mission coordination and control of the combat area. Tanker aircraft were also damaged, although they are crucial for keeping fighter planes and other air assets operational for the long term.
In practice, an attack of this type could temporarily reduce the United States’ ability to maintain a continuous air presence over sensitive areas in the Middle East.
The loss or unavailability of airborne command and refueling capabilities affects mission planning, coordination between aircraft and the time they can remain in the air.
The case also runs counter to recent assessments by U.S. officials about Iran’s offensive capabilities. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said days earlier that Iranian missile and drone attacks had declined by more than 90% since the conflict began on February 28.
Still, the March 27 attack indicates that Tehran still retains the means to strike U.S. positions and strategic assets in the region.
Pictures show the total loss of 81-0005, an E-3G “Sentry” Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft with the U.S. Air Force’s 552nd Air Control Wing based out of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, following yesterday’s Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on Prince… pic.twitter.com/NNnILybnrU
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 29, 2026
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Source and images: X @sentdefender | X @USAFCENT | USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by editors.
