Trump Denies Reports of Destroyed US Aircraft After Iranian Strike in Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump has rejected media reports suggesting that American refuelling aircraft were destroyed during a recent Iranian missile strike on a Saudi Arabian air base, asserting that the planes were neither destroyed nor seriously damaged. His remarks came amid heightened tensions across the Middle East as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to intensify.

Trump stated that the military facility had indeed been targeted by Iranian missiles several days earlier, but insisted that reports of major damage to American aircraft were inaccurate. According to him, five US refuelling aircraft were present at the base during the attack. Four of the planes sustained little to no damage and have already returned to service, while the fifth experienced slightly greater damage and is expected to be operational again soon. Trump emphasized that none of the aircraft had been destroyed, strongly disputing what he described as misleading headlines from parts of the media.

The president’s comments followed a report by The Wall Street Journal that cited US officials claiming several American Air Force refuelling aircraft were struck during an Iranian missile attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The report indicated that five aircraft had been damaged while stationed on the ground during the strike. Although the planes were reportedly not completely destroyed, they required repairs before returning to service. Officials also indicated that there were no casualties linked to the attack.

The developments come during a broader escalation in hostilities across the region. Iran has continued to launch missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states, while US and Israeli forces have carried out strikes on military installations and other targets inside Iran. The exchange of attacks has raised concerns about the risk of a wider regional conflict.

In a separate development, the US military confirmed the deaths of six crew members aboard an American Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker that crashed in Iraq. The crash represents the fourth publicly acknowledged aircraft loss connected to US operations related to the confrontation with Iran. Earlier in the month, three American fighter jets were reportedly downed by friendly fire originating from Kuwait.

Trump has also repeatedly criticized media coverage of the conflict. Earlier in the month, the administration expressed strong objections after CNN aired remarks from Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. A US government social media account accused the broadcaster of amplifying messaging from the Iranian state during a period of escalating hostilities.

The dispute over reporting surrounding the Saudi air base incident highlights the growing information battle accompanying the military tensions in the region.