Six US Air Force fuel tanker aircraft were struck by Iranian missiles and damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing two US officials and quoted by The Times of Israel on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
🚨 Iran struck and damaged 5 US Air Force refueling planes at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, WSJ reports.
— This is so far the biggest blow to US military equipments by Iran since the beginning of Iran-Us war.
— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) March 14, 2026
The report said the aircraft were hit during an Iranian missile strike on the Saudi base a few days ago. Although the tankers were damaged, they were not completely destroyed and are currently undergoing repairs. No casualties were reported from the attack.
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According to the WSJ report, also cited by The Jerusalem Post, at least seven US Air Force fuel tanker aircraft have been damaged or destroyed in recent days as a result of Iranian missile attacks.
The figure emerged following a separate incident on Thursday in which two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft reportedly collided, causing one of the planes to crash. The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that six crew members were killed in the crash.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the crash was not caused by enemy or friendly fire. However, the aircraft went down in an area of Iraq where pro-Iranian militias are active. Iranian state television later claimed that allied forces had struck the aircraft with a missile.
The incidents come amid escalating tensions across the Middle East following joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran on February 28. The conflict has reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Read more: US refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq: US military
Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as US-linked facilities in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting American military assets. The attacks have caused casualties, damaged civilian infrastructure, and disrupted global markets and air travel.
The damaged tankers were part of ongoing US military operations against Iran. Built by Boeing, the KC-135 is designed to refuel other aircraft mid-air, enabling fighter jets and bombers to conduct longer missions without landing. The aircraft has been a key part of US air operations since the 1950s and was widely used during the Gulf War.
Thursday’s crash has raised the official US military death toll in the current US-Israel war with Iran to 13. The US military has also lost at least four aircraft since the conflict began.
Earlier this month, three F-15 Eagle jets were shot down in a reported friendly-fire incident over Kuwait, although all six crew members involved were able to eject safely.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, produced by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s, has long served as the backbone of the US aerial refueling fleet, enabling aircraft to extend their operational range without needing to land for fuel.
