Iranian attack on Saudi base injures American troops

U.S. Military Casualties in Iran Conflict Surpass 300 as Marines Arrive in Middle East

The number of American service members wounded in the ongoing conflict with Iran has now exceeded 300, with more than two dozen troops injured this week in attacks on a Saudi air base, according to U.S. military officials.

In the latest attack on Friday, Iran fired six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, injuring at least 15 U.S. troops, including five seriously wounded. This marked the third attack on the base this week, which is located about 60 miles from Riyadh and houses both Saudi and American forces.

An earlier attack at the same installation injured 14 U.S. personnel, while another incident damaged a U.S. aircraft but caused no casualties, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The base has been a frequent target since the beginning of the conflict, which reached its one-month mark on Saturday. In a previous attack on March 1, Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, sustained wounds that proved fatal days later, making him one of 13 American service members killed in the conflict so far.

As tensions escalate, the U.S. military continues to build up its presence in the region. U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship carrying approximately 2,500 Marines, has arrived in the Middle East. The vessel and its 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were redirected from exercises near Taiwan about two weeks ago.

“The Tripoli also brings transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault assets to the region,” Central Command stated. Additionally, the USS Boxer and two other ships, along with another Marine Expeditionary Unit, have been ordered to deploy from San Diego.

This reinforcement adds to what was already the largest American force in the region in more than two decades, comprising two aircraft carriers, several warships, and approximately 50,000 troops. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s newest aircraft carrier, recently departed the Middle East for repairs in Europe following a fire in its laundry facilities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Friday that the United States can achieve its objectives “without any ground troops” while maintaining that President Trump “has to be prepared for multiple contingencies” with forces available to provide “maximum optionality.”

The human toll of the conflict extends beyond the Saudi base attacks. Six service members were killed when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait, and another six died when their refueling plane crashed in Iraq following what the military described as “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

The Pentagon reports that of the more than 300 wounded service members, most have returned to duty, while 30 remain out of action and 10 are considered seriously wounded.

James Jeffrey, a former deputy national security adviser to President George W. Bush, noted the relatively low American casualty rate given the intensity of Iranian attacks. “It’s amazing how low the casualties have been, given the amount of stuff that the Iranians have fired,” said Jeffrey, now a scholar at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

However, he cautioned that Iran’s primary objective isn’t killing American troops but rather inflicting economic pain globally. The conflict has significantly disrupted global air travel and oil exports, causing fuel prices to soar. Iran’s control of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz has exacerbated these economic consequences.

With ramifications extending far beyond the Middle East, President Trump faces mounting pressure to end Iran’s blockade of the strait. The latest attacks on the Saudi air base occurred after Trump claimed negotiations to end the conflict were progressing “very well.” The president had given Tehran until April 6 to reopen the strait, though Iranian officials deny engaging in any negotiations.

“We have not stopped Iran from its campaign against the Gulf,” Jeffrey warned, adding that Iran still possesses significant military capabilities and “400-plus kilograms of highly enriched uranium” that remains buried but accessible.