Iran Hits Five US Air Force Refueling Planes At Saudi Base As Six American Airmen Die In KC-135 Crash — US War Deaths Now At Least 13
Iran has struck deep into the heart of America's air war machine — hitting five United States Air Force refueling planes on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday March 13, 2026, citing two senior US officials. The five KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft were damaged but not destroyed during an Iranian ballistic missile strike on the strategically vital Saudi base southeast of Riyadh. The planes are currently undergoing repairs. No fatalities were reported from this specific incident — but the revelation brings the total number of US Air Force refueling planes damaged or destroyed in Operation Epic Fury to at least seven , in what is emerging as a deliberate and highly effective Iranian strategy to degrade America's ability to sustain its air campaign over Iran. US Central Command declined to comment on the Wall Street Journal report. Reuters confirmed the report, citing the same two US officials, though it note...