5 U.S. Air Force refueling planes hit in Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia, WSJ reports; U.S. hits Iran's key oil export hub
by Bo Erickson, Parisa Hafezi, Maya Gebeily and Alexander Cornwell · Japan TodayWASHINGTON/DUBAI/BEIRUT/JERUSALEM — Five U.S. Air Force refueling planes were struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing two U.S. officials.
The planes, which were hit during an Iranian missile strike on the Saudi base in recent days, were damaged but not fully destroyed and are being repaired, the Journal said, adding that no one was killed in the strikes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. attacked military targets on Iran's main oil hub of Kharg Island, President Donald Trump said, threatening to strike oil infrastructure on the island if Iran continues to block shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Trump said the U.S. military "totally obliterated every MILITARY target" on the island, but he had decided to leave oil infrastructure intact. The island serves as the export terminal for 90% of Iran's oil shipments and lies about 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the strait.
"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 said.
Iran had no ability to defend against U.S. attacks, the president added. "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!" he said.
The move came as oil prices have been whipsawing on Trump's changing comments on the likely duration of the Iran war, which has prompted Iran to attack vessels in the strait, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil.
Trump on Thursday issued a temporary waiver for some purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, a move that drew criticism from U.S. allies in Europe for potentially helping Russia fund its war with Ukraine.
Asked when the U.S. Navy will start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump told reporters on Friday, "It will happen soon."
Trump earlier said Iran's attacks on shipping were "a last-ditch effort." The U.S. would continue to hit Iran "very hard over the next week," he said in a Fox News interview that was recorded on Thursday and aired on Friday.
U.S. forces have also suffered casualties. The U.S. military confirmed that all six crew members aboard a refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were dead.
Iran fired more missiles and drones at Israel, and Iranian drones were reported flying into Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.
The Israeli military launched strikes across Tehran. It said its air force had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran over the past day, including ballistic missile launchers, air-defence systems and weapons production sites.
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