As Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion continues to degrade and destroy Iranian military capability, the Islamic Republic continues to lash out with what they have left, and that has included attacks on their neighboring Gulf states. In the latest incident, 12 American service members were injured, and two American aerial refueling aircraft were damaged, in an Iranian missile and drone attack on a Saudi Arabian air base.
An Iranian strike injured 12 U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, two of them seriously, on the Prince Sultan Air Base, two U.S. officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said on Friday.
The combined missile and drone attack amounted to one of the most serious breaches of American air defenses in the course of the monthlong war with Iran. At least two KC-135 aerial refueling planes also suffered significant damage in the attack.
The War Department, as of this writing, has not given any update regarding the 12 service members' identities or the extent of their injuries.
This hasn't been a one-sided exchange. American and Israeli forces are still disassembling Iranian industry with high explosives.
There were also Israeli strikes on industrial and nuclear sites in Iran on Friday, more Israeli evacuation warnings in Lebanon and threats from the Iran-allied Houthi militia in Yemen of the possibility of opening another front in the war.
Iranian media reported attacks on two nuclear sites, a uranium processing plant and a nuclear research facility, and the Israeli military claimed responsibility for those strikes. Two steel plants and another industrial complex were also hit. Iran threatened to retaliate against industries in the region with American shareholders or ties to Israel.
The steel plant strikes are significant, as what's left of Iran's weapons and munitions production, if indeed there is any left, relies on steel. In fact, nothing in the manufacture of weapons and ammunition is possible without steel, so these are logical targets, and it's worth noting that while American and Israeli forces continue to hunt down and destroy not only what's left of the Iranian military, but also their logistical chain as well.
And, as I've been saying and writing all along, wars are won and lost by logistics.
Read More: Report: UAE Making Big Military Move to Help Clear Strait As Pressure on Iran Steps up
Iran's Despicable Move to Recruit Children for 'War Support' Shows Just How Desperate They Are
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates may be moving towards taking up arms against Iran directly, in part because of the random attacks by Iran on installations in their countries.
According to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, the Gulf states are “inching toward” a more active role, after Riyadh allowed US forces to use an air base within its borders.
A source familiar with the decision cited by the news outlet said it is “only a matter of time” before Saudi Arabia enters the war, after its foreign minister said last week that its patience for Iranian attacks “is not unlimited.”
That would comprise a very significant increase in the allied coalition, making the correlation of forces against Iran even more considerable.
And so the military operation against Iran and the vicious 7th-century barbarians that run that country - for now - continues. Stay tuned, as we will continue to bring you the latest.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member