Prince Sultan Air Base

Israel launched airstrikes on central and western Iran following Iranian missile attacks, while a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia was targeted, escalating tensions after a fragile April ceasefire. President Donald Trump claimed he dictated terms to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the conflict, and a missile launched from Yemen targeted Israel, prompting nationwide school cancellations.

A Congressional Research Service report documented 42 U.S. aircraft lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, a 40-day military campaign against Iran that began February 28. The losses included fighter jets, tankers, and 25 unmanned drones, with only six aircrew fatalities occurring when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed over Iraq. The report represents the most complete public accounting of the operation's aviation losses to date.

House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar warned that commercial satellite imagery, possibly from Airbus, may have exposed U.S. military positions in Saudi Arabia before an Iranian strike wounded troops. The attack on Prince Sultan Air Base damaged critical aircraft, raising concerns about adversaries using satellite data for targeting.

House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar warned that commercial satellite imagery, possibly from Airbus, may have exposed U.S. military positions in the Middle East before an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base. The attack wounded 12 U.S. troops and damaged critical aircraft, raising concerns about adversaries using satellite data for targeting.

The Intercept reports the Pentagon is underreporting U.S. casualties in the Middle East since October 2023, with CENTCOM providing outdated figures. Trump downplayed casualties during a war with Iran, while officials accuse the administration of hiding death tolls.