The U.S. military was forced to admit Iran's combat capability, with 3 aerial refueling aircraft destroyed by 6 missiles, while Saudi forces remained eerily silent!
On March 27 local time, Iran announced the execution of the 84th phase of its "True Promise-4" military operation, carrying out a precise strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base (also known as Al-Kharj Base) located within Saudi Arabia.
Iran subsequently released high-definition satellite imagery clearly showing at least three KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft completely destroyed on the airfield apron, with several other military aircraft also damaged. Faced with irrefutable visual evidence, Pentagon officials were compelled to acknowledge that the base had indeed been attacked, resulting in damage to multiple refueling aircraft.
Saudi military response, however, appeared notably intriguing. In an official statement, the Saudi Ministry of Defense claimed that Iran launched six ballistic missiles, two of which were intercepted, while the remaining four fell into “uninhabited areas” or water bodies. Defining a military airfield housing expensive fighter jets as “uninhabited” has been widely regarded by observers as a semantic maneuver intended to preserve face.
To understand the gravity of this strike, one must first examine the strategic significance of Prince Sultan Air Base. Far from being an ordinary forward outpost, it is the largest and most advanced core hub for the U.S. Central Command in the Middle East. Thousands of U.S. troops are permanently stationed there, deploying advanced aircraft such as F-15s and F-35s, along with full sets of Patriot missile defense systems—shouldering critical responsibilities including regional air defense, command and control, and force projection.
For the U.S. military, maintaining air dominance in the Middle East heavily relies on aerial refueling capabilities. The KC-135 tanker aircraft serve as the "arteries of the sky," providing essential fuel resupply for fighter jets during long-range missions and extended patrols.
If these tankers are destroyed, the operational range of U.S. fighter jets would shrink dramatically, placing the entire regional air combat system at risk of being severed—essentially “cutting off the blood supply.” Therefore, Iran’s decision to target the refueling fleet at this base is akin to striking a snake at its vital point—directly aiming at the Achilles’ heel of U.S. military operations.
Saudi forces are now stunned, having realized for the first time that the U.S. cannot even protect its own refueling aircraft or bases—how then can they guarantee Saudi security?
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860871191748748/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.