Iranian strike injures 12 US soldiers as Trump promises to end war ‘in weeks’

A strike hit the Prince Sultan Air Base yesterday, injuring two people seriously and damaging American aircraft (Picture: Reuters) Some 12 US soldiers have been injured after an Iranian missile hit an air base in Saudi Arabia. A strike hit the Prince Sultan Air Base yesterday, injuring two people seriously and damaging American aircraft. The base was also hit on March 1, killing US Army Sergeant Benjamin N Pennington, 26. At least 303 Americans have been injured in the Iran war, started by Trump’s Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Retaliatory strikes from Iran have covered the Middle East ever since. Yemen also confirmed firing a strike towards Israel yesterday, marking the first time the country has become involved in the conflict. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the war is set to end in ‘weeks not months’. U.S. Army Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington died at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia (Picture: Reuters) Members of the military carry the transfer case during a dignified transfer of the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington (Picture: Reuters) He said: ‘We have objectives and we are very confident we are on the verge of achieving them.’ US president Donald Trump has hit out at Nato, saying it was a ‘big mistake’ member countries did not support the war. He said: ‘I’ve always said NATO is a paper tiger.’ Iran has warned the US and Israel is ‘playing with fire’ after strikes in Tehran targeted power and nuclear sites. State media reported strikes on Iran’s decommissioned heavy-water nuclear research reactor and a factory producing yellowcake uranium late on Friday. The strikes didn’t cause any casualties or risk of contamination, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said. But Tehran quickly threatened to retaliate. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One yesterday (Picture: AP) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X: ‘Israel has hit 2 of Iran’s largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. ‘Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.’ Polish prime minister Donald Tusk warned an escalation of conflict is coming. He said: ‘I have reasons to believe, also based on information we’ve received from our allies, that stabilization is unlikely in the coming days. On the contrary, a new escalation may occur.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.