Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia is in the news after a deadly attack on the base, part of escalating US–Iran Gulf tensions. PSAB is a key Saudi military air hub near Riyadh.
Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, from Kentucky, died after injuries sustained during an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1. His death was confirmed during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, with officials and community members mourning his loss.
President Trump has publicly criticized NATO, claiming the alliance has failed to support the US during its military actions against Iran. He suggests the US no longer needs NATO's protection, citing perceived lack of support and the high costs of defending allies. The comments follow ongoing military strikes and diplomatic tensions related to Iran.
As of early April 2026, the US has intensified military deployments in the Middle East, including the USS George H.W. Bush carrier group joining two others near Iran. Iran-backed Houthis launched missile attacks on Israel, while Iran continues strikes on Gulf states and Israel. A recent Iranian missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base wounded 12 US troops and damaged refueling aircraft. The conflict has caused significant casualties and disrupted global oil supplies.
The US has sent a Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East, including the USS Tripoli, as tensions with Iran escalate. The deployment follows recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and signals a potential increase in US military presence, though no full invasion is planned. President Trump has not publicly approved the move.
Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, damaging US aircraft including an E-3 Sentry AWACS. The attack involved ballistic missiles and drones, destroying key assets and wounding US personnel. The incident escalates regional tensions amid ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft was destroyed in a missile and drone attack on a Saudi air base on March 27. The loss reduces U.S. surveillance capacity in the region, raising concerns about military preparedness amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The attack injured several U.S. service members.
Planet Labs has announced an indefinite restriction on satellite imagery of the Middle East at the request of the US government. The move follows the escalation of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28. The restriction aims to prevent adversaries from using imagery for attacks, with images now released only on a case-by-case basis during the ongoing conflict. The conflict has seen Iran retaliate with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states, with significant damage reported at military sites and strategic locations across the region.
Recent assessments reveal Russian satellites conducted at least 24 surveys across 11 Middle Eastern countries in late March, sharing imagery with Iran. This activity preceded targeted missile and drone strikes on military sites, highlighting deepening military and cyber cooperation between Russia and Iran since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Iran has acquired a Chinese-built TEE-01B satellite in late 2024, which its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has used to monitor US military bases in the Middle East during ongoing conflict. The satellite captured images before and after Iranian drone and missile strikes on US sites in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq. China denies involvement, while the US is monitoring the situation.
Recent reporting has shown the Iran war has significantly drained US missile and interceptor stockpiles, forcing the Pentagon to reallocate munitions from other regions and ask Congress for emergency funding. At the same time, militaries are increasing investment in low-cost drones, counter-drone systems and battlefield robots — including Ukrainian systems and US-funded autonomous drone programs.