ISLAMABAD (MNN); United States President Donald Trump has dismissed reports claiming that American military aircraft were destroyed during an Iranian missile attack on a military base in Saudi Arabia, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The report, published by The Wall Street Journal, cited two unnamed US officials and stated that five American aircraft stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base were damaged during an Iranian missile strike.
According to the newspaper, the aircraft involved were Boeing C-135 Stratotanker refuelling planes that are used to supply fuel to fighter jets and bomber aircraft during flight operations. The report noted that the aircraft were on the ground when the missile attack occurred and were damaged as a result.
Prince Sultan Air Base, located around seventy kilometres southeast of Riyadh, is considered a key installation for United States Armed Forces operations in the Middle East.
Responding to the report on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump rejected the claims and said the report was inaccurate.
He acknowledged that an attack had taken place at the base a few days earlier but clarified that the aircraft were neither directly targeted nor destroyed.
According to Trump, four of the five aircraft sustained only minimal damage and have already returned to service, while the fifth aircraft suffered comparatively heavier damage but is expected to be repaired and become operational soon.
Trump also criticised the newspaper for publishing the report, accusing some media outlets of attempting to create the impression that the United States was losing the ongoing conflict.
The issue has emerged amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East, where both countries have been involved in increasing military and political confrontation.
In a separate incident, the United States Air Force recently experienced another accident involving the same type of aircraft. Two Boeing C-135 Stratotanker planes collided during an operation, resulting in the destruction of one aircraft and the deaths of six personnel on board.
These incidents have highlighted the operational challenges and risks faced by military aircraft supporting large-scale air missions in the region.
