March 14, 2026 | 10:54 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Six American Air Force fuel tanker aircraft were hit by Iranian missiles and damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing two US officials as quoted by The Times of Israel on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
The aircraft, which were hit by Iranian missile attacks at the Saudi base a few days ago, suffered damage but were not completely destroyed and are undergoing repairs, the Journal said, adding that there were no casualties in the attack.
According to the WSJ report cited by The Jerusalem Post, at least seven Air Force fuel tanker aircraft have been damaged or destroyed in recent days due to Iranian missile attacks.
This figure emerged after an incident on Thursday where two KC-135 fuel tanker aircraft were claimed to have collided, resulting in one of the planes crashing. The six crew members of the aircraft were reported to have been killed, as confirmed by the Pentagon on Friday.
The US Central Command (Centcom) claimed that no enemy fire or friendly fire was involved in the loss of the KC-135 plane on Thursday.
However, the area where the plane crashed is in Iraq where pro-Iranian militias operate. The Iranian military claimed on government television that allied forces had targeted the aircraft with a missile.
These attacks occurred as tensions throughout the Middle East escalated since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on February 28, which has so far resulted in the deaths of around 1,300 people, including the then Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, resulting in casualties and damage to civil infrastructure as well as affecting the global market and air travel.
Tanker Aircraft since 1950
The tanker aircraft were involved in ongoing US operations against Iran and were one of two aircraft involved in the incident. The second aircraft landed safely.
Made by Boeing, this aircraft is capable of refueling other aircraft in the air and plays a crucial role in US military operations. It was widely used during the first Gulf War to extend the range of fighter jets and bombers.
Thursday's accident has increased the official US military death toll in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began two weeks ago, to 13 people.
The US military has now lost at least four aircraft during the current war.
Earlier this month, three F-15s were shot down in a "friendly fire incident" over Kuwait, officials said. The six crew members of the aircraft were able to eject safely.
Boeing produced the KC-135 Stratotanker for the US military in the 1950s and early 1960s.
This aircraft has been the backbone of the US military air refueling fleet, allowing fighter aircraft to undertake longer missions without the need to land.
Read: China Donates $200,000 to Families of Iran School Strike Victims
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