Iranian Attacks On Saudi Base Have Injured Two Dozen U.s. Forces In A Week

WASHINGTON — The number of American work members wounded successful nan Iran warfare has grown beyond 300, pinch much than 2 twelve troops injured this week successful attacks connected a Saudi aerial base.

Iran fired six ballistic missiles and 29 drones astatine Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base successful an onslaught Friday that injured astatine slightest 15 troops, including 5 seriously, according to 2 group briefed connected nan matter. U.S. officials initially reported that astatine slightest 10 U.S. troops were injured.

More American forces are reaching nan Middle East, pinch a Navy vessel carrying astir 2,500 Marines having now arrived successful nan region, U.S. Central Command announced Saturday. The USS Tripoli, an amphibious battle ship, arsenic good arsenic nan elements from nan 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit that are aboard, are based successful Japan. They were conducting exercises successful nan area astir Taiwan erstwhile nan bid came to deploy to nan Middle East almost 2 weeks ago.

Central Command said that successful summation to nan Marines, nan Tripoli besides brings carrier and onslaught combatant craft arsenic good arsenic amphibious battle assets to nan region. The USS Boxer and 2 different ships, on pinch different Marine Expeditionary Unit, person besides been ordered to nan region from San Diego.

Before nan presence of nan Marines, nan U.S. subject had already built up nan largest American unit successful nan region successful much than 20 years, including 2 craft carriers, respective different warships and immoderate 50,000 troops. The USS Gerald R. Ford, nan nation’s newest craft carrier, precocious near nan Middle East for repairs and supplies successful Europe aft a occurrence successful a laundry room that affected immoderate of nan ship’s sleeping quarters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday nan United States tin meet its objectives “without immoderate crushed troops.” But he besides said that Trump “has to beryllium prepared for aggregate contingencies” and that American forces are disposable “to springiness nan president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to set to contingencies should they emerge.”

The Saudi guidelines had travel nether onslaught doubly earlier successful nan week, including an incident that injured 14 U.S. troops, according to nan people, who were not authorized to talk nan matter publically and said connected information of anonymity. In nan different attack, nary 1 was injured but a U.S. craft was damaged.

The base, which is astir 60 miles from nan Saudi superior of Riyadh, is tally by nan Royal Saudi Air Force but besides utilized by U.S. troops. The installation has been targeted almost since nan opening of nan war, which connected Saturday reached nan one-month mark.

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, was wounded during a March 1 onslaught connected nan guidelines and died days later. He is 1 of nan 13 work members who person been killed successful nan war.

The Pentagon did not instantly respond to an email seeking remark Saturday regarding nan American casualties astatine nan Saudi base.

Central Command said Friday that much than 300 work members person been wounded successful nan war. Most person returned to duty, while 30 remained retired of action and 10 were considered earnestly wounded.

Iran has responded to attacks by nan United States and Israel pinch strikes against Israel and neighboring gulf Arab states. The warfare has upended world aerial travel, disrupted lipid exports and caused substance prices to soar. Iran’s stranglehold connected nan Strait of Hormuz, a strategical waterway, has exacerbated nan economical fallout.

With nan economical repercussions extending acold beyond nan Middle East, President Trump is nether increasing unit to extremity Iran’s chokehold connected nan strait. The latest attacks connected nan Saudi aerial guidelines happened aft Trump claimed talks connected ending nan warfare were going “very well.”

Trump said he had fixed Tehran until April 6 to reopen nan strait. Iran says it has not engaged successful immoderate negotiations.

Madhani, Magdy and Finley constitute for nan Associated Press. Madhani and Finley reported from Washington and Magdy from Cairo. AP writer Konstantin Toropin successful Washington contributed to this report.