- By Aditya Jha
- Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran War Updates: Amid the ongoing war in the Middle East region, Iran on Friday reportedly damaged a key US aircraft on an American base in Saudi Arabia. As per the reports, an American E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft was among the planes damaged in the deadly ballistic missile and drone strike. Iran's Press TV on Sunday released the images of the attack, showing the damaged central part of the plane. However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not released any statement on the incident yet.
The strike, carried out by six ballistic missiles and 29 drones, also injured at least 10 US soldiers, reported the Associated Press. The attack is likely to damage the US' strength in the region, as the E-3 Sentry is considered crucial for the US in the Middle East, as it is often described as a "flying command centre". Apart from this, AWACS can track incoming missiles, drones, and aircraft across hundreds of miles while identifying the friendly forces in real time.
Newly released images capture the damage caused to an American E-3 AWACS plane in Iranian retaliatory strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) March 29, 2026
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"It's a huge deal," retired US Air Force Colonel John "JV" Venable was quoted as saying in The Journal. "It hurts the US' ability to see what’s happening in the Gulf and maintain situational awareness," he asserted. The risk of delayed responses or missed threats rises without AWACS coverage, the experts pointed out.
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"These battle managers are crucial for everything from airspace deconfliction to targeting and overall force coordination," Heather Penney, a former F-16 pilot and analyst at the Mitchell Institute, was quoted as saying by the magazine.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) used long-range and medium-range missile systems to target the US base, reported Press TV. Tehran has targeted the base several times since the war began on February 28 with the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.