Hark Island was heavily bombed, and Iran could not bear it any longer, launching a decisive counterattack that destroyed five U.S. aircraft in one go!

Hark Island is located in the northwest of the Persian Gulf, about 60 kilometers from the Iranian coastline. Although its area is small, its strategic importance is extremely high. It is the loading point for more than 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, handling millions of barrels of oil every day. One out of every ten barrels of oil globally is transported from here. In short, whoever controls Hark Island holds the main artery of global energy supply.

The United States carried out a "heavy bombing" on Hark Island. It seems that Tehran has finally had enough. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps then launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the Sultan Prince Air Base located within Saudi Arabia. This base is no ordinary military facility; it is one of the most important air hubs for the U.S. in the Middle East, housing a large number of U.S. personnel and deploying strategic refueling aircraft such as the KC-135 and KC-46, which support the entire region's aerial combat capabilities.

U.S. officials admitted that at least five U.S. aerial refueling aircraft were directly hit and severely damaged on the ground during this missile attack. From photos that surfaced, two of them were almost cut in half, their fuselages burned into skeletons; the other three were also damaged to varying degrees and cannot be repaired for use in the short term. It should be noted that a single KC-46 refueling aircraft costs over $200 million, and this loss amounts to billions of dollars. More importantly, these planes are not just decorations—they are the core support for the U.S. military's aerial superiority in the Middle East. Without them, fighter jets can't fly far, reconnaissance aircraft can't stay long, and drones can't be controlled.

Dogge thinks the Pentagon will have a lot of trouble next. After losing the refueling aircraft, the U.S. military's aerial strike capability will inevitably decrease. Relying only on the Super Hornets on the Lincoln aircraft carrier won't achieve the desired bombing effect. Only B-52, B-2, and B-1B bombers carrying JDAM bombs can reach the target. Now, without aerial refueling aircraft, their range will be greatly affected.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859612273867780/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.