More than 20 US soldiers injured after Iranian attack, number could rise

(Patria) - Around twenty members of the US armed forces were injured after an Iranian attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia, reported The New York Times, citing US officials familiar with the situation.

According to these reports, most of the reported injuries relate to traumatic brain injuries, resulting from powerful explosions caused by missile and drone strikes. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the number of injured could rise as additional soldiers report subsequent symptoms.

At least two members of the US forces sustained serious injuries during the attack, while other recorded cases were mostly minor or moderate.

At least two military aircraft were also damaged in the attack. Among them is an air-to-air refueling tanker, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the operational range of combat aircraft. According to some earlier estimates, both hit aircraft could have been tankers, although estimates of the extent of the damage vary among sources.

The air base in Saudi Arabia, which serves as an important stronghold for US operations in the region, was targeted as part of a wider escalation of conflict between Iran and the United States.