The newspaper cited two sources within the U.S. administration but did not provide the exact date of the attack. U.S. Central Command declined to comment on the reported incident.
According to the report, the strike was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and targeted the Saudi-based installation used by U.S. forces. Despite the damage to the aircraft, the report stated that no personnel were killed in the attack.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that the aircraft sustained damage that allows them to be repaired. Some of the affected tankers have already entered the repair process.
U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the situation in an unofficial post on Truth Social. He wrote that four of the five aircraft sustained minimal damage and were already returning to service.
Trump also indicated that one tanker suffered more significant damage but is expected to become operational again soon. According to his statement, “four of the five tankers had practically no damage and are already returning to service,” while one aircraft was more seriously affected but “will soon be capable of flying again.”
Prince Sultan Air Base has reportedly been targeted several times during recent Iranian attacks. One U.S. service member died after being seriously wounded during an attack on the base on March 1.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence later stated that its air defense systems intercepted five Iranian drones near the base the following day. These incidents highlight the continued risks facing U.S. and allied forces operating in the region.
The Wall Street Journal report also noted that the U.S. Air Force has already lost one KC-135R tanker during the current conflict. The aircraft crashed over Iraq, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members on board.
Another KC-135 tanker reportedly managed to perform an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The emergency landing is believed to have occurred after a possible mid-air collision.
Source: The Wall Street Journal.
