12 US troops wounded, 2 seriously, in Iranian attack on Saudi base — report
Several aerial refueling planes said damaged; ballistic missile and drones used in attack; 300 American soldiers injured since start of war, vast majority of casualties described as minor
Illustrative: In this February 20, 2020, file pool photo, a member of the US Air Force stands near a Patriot missile battery at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via AP)
An Iranian attack on a base in Saudi Arabia has wounded at least 12 American soldiers, two of them seriously, US media reported Friday.
Iran has kept up retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations it accuses of serving as a launchpad for US strikes on the regime, which began in a joint operation with Israel on February 28.
The attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia included at least one missile and several drones, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified officials.
The soldiers were inside a building at the base when it was struck, the Journal reported.
Several aerial refueling planes also suffered damage in the attack, the reports said.
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Saudi Arabia has previously intercepted several missiles fired near the base.
A US Air Force Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling plane connects to a F-35 fighter jet over California, January 22, 2019. (US Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.
Thirteen US military service members have been killed since the conflict with Iran broke out, with seven killed in the Gulf and six in Iraq. More than 300 more have been wounded.
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According to US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, the “vast majority” of the injuries have been minor, and most troops have already returned to duty.
A US Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of US Army Reserve soldier Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, of White Bear Lake, Minn., who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the US and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, past President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a casualty return, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A US official who asked not to be identified told AFP that 10 troops remained seriously wounded.
Iran’s government has not released an updated casualty toll, but a US-based activist group said on March 23 that around 1,167 Iranian troops had been killed and that the status of 658 troops was unknown. AFP is not able to independently verify tolls in Iran due to reporting restrictions.
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