03/28/2026
An Iranian missile and drone barrage struck the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, wounding at least 15 U.S. service members and marking one of the most significant breaches of American air defenses since the conflict began. Reports indicate that five of the troops are in serious condition, while the strike also caused substantial damage to critical high-value assets, including an E-3 Sentry AWACS command plane and several KC-135 refueling tankers. This assault, occurring on Day 29 of the war, appears to be a direct retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that day. As the total number of American wounded in the month-long conflict surpasses 300, the Pentagon is reportedly weighing the deployment of 10,000 additional troops to the region to bolster defense against Iran’s persistent ballistic missile and drone capabilities.