A new report has revealed previously undisclosed damage to U.S. military assets following an Iranian strike on a key American air base in Saudi Arabia, raising fresh questions about the scale of the attack and what the Pentagon chose not to publicly disclose immediately.
According to The Wall Street Journal, five US Air Force refueling planes were hit and damaged at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia during a recent Iranian missile strike. The planes were not completely destroyed and are currently undergoing repairs. No one was killed in these strikes.
In response, President Donald Trump announced that the US attacked military targets on Iran’s main oil hub, Kharg Island. The island serves as the export terminal for about 90% of Iran’s oil shipments and sits around 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.
The US-Iran conflict is widening fast, and the stakes for global oil supply are growing by the day
President Trump confirmed that the US military “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on Kharg Island. He also said he chose to leave the island’s oil infrastructure intact for now, but warned, “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
Trump also claimed Iran had no way to defend against US attacks, adding, “Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”
Oil prices have been swinging due to Trump’s shifting comments on how long the conflict might last. Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are a major concern, as that waterway carries a fifth of the world’s oil. Americans are already feeling the pressure at the pump, and gas prices surging across the country has become a growing concern.
When asked about the US Navy escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump told reporters on Friday that “It will happen soon.” He had previously described Iran’s attacks on shipping as a “last-ditch effort” and also mentioned that the US would continue to hit Iran “very hard over the next week.”
The US military confirmed that all six crew members aboard a refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were killed. Democrats in Congress have pushed back on the administration’s actions, with some filing a War Powers Resolution over Trump’s Iran strikes to limit further military action without congressional approval.
Separately, Iran continued firing missiles and drones at Israel, while Iranian drones were also reported flying into Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman. In response, the Israeli military launched strikes across Tehran, saying its air force had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran over the past day.
These targets included ballistic missile launchers, air-defense systems, and weapons production sites. President Trump also issued a temporary waiver for some purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, a move that drew criticism from US allies in Europe who worried it could help Russia fund its war with Ukraine.
Published: Mar 14, 2026 11:15 am