United States Air Force KC-135R/T Damaged

An Iranian ballistic missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, on March 13, 2026, hit the flight line where five USAF KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft were parked, inflicting moderate damage on all five airframes. U.S. officials stated none were destroyed and that repairs would return all to service quickly. President Trump disputed media characterizations, noting four tankers had minimal damage and were already back in service, with the fifth needing only minor work. The attack raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of aerial refueling infrastructure supporting Operation Epic Fury.