Targeting the Lifeline: Iran’s Strike on the U.S. Air Support Chain

WANA (Sep 12) – The United States relocated its air and defense equipment to Al-Kharj and Al-Azraq to stay safe from Iranian strikes; however, the identification and targeting of the refueling supply chain of these bases turned a new vulnerability into an opportunity for Iran’s operations against the U.S. enemy.

Iran’s initial strikes on bases near its territory during the 40-day war—bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and eastern Saudi Arabia located less than 600 to 700 kilometers from Iran’s borders—had rendered these bases severely vulnerable.

The dramatic decrease in the operational capability of these bases forced the U.S. command to seek a fundamental solution: a tactical retreat into the desert deep.

Thus, the most critical air and defense equipment were transferred to two distant bases: Al-Kharj in Saudi Arabia and Al-Azraq in Jordan. Although this relocation meant increasing the distance from Iran’s borders, it provided more reaction time against Iranian projectiles while simultaneously reducing pressure on personnel and equipment.

With the transfer of assets to these two bases, a new reality emerged. The unprecedented density of air defense systems and multiple layers of air defense around Al-Kharj and Al-Azraq transformed the region’s skies into one of the most secure airspaces.

New Air Network for Detecting Iranian Missiles

More interestingly, the Americans—having lost the majority of their ground-based radars in previous attacks—designed the detection network for missiles launched from Iranian soil entirely based on aerial systems for the first time. This paradigm shift demonstrated tactical creativity, but at the same time, it created a new vulnerability.

The new air network was a combination of unmanned aerial vehicles such as the MQ-9 and MQ-4, as well as reconnaissance aircraft of the Zionist regime, alongside manned aircraft including the E-11, E-3, and E-2D types.

This formation was considered a completely novel pattern in regional air defense; unlike static, fixed systems, it left no specific, predictable point to strike.

For Iranian operational teams, this mobile and integrated network pushed the mission to the brink of impossibility; both flight paths were undetectable, and the integrated nature of the network was unprecedented and complex. Several missile operations were conducted against remote bases, but the results were not very satisfactory.

Shift in Iran’s Approach: Targeting the Refueling Supply Chain

However, in the midst of this tactical stalemate, a shift in approach changed everything. Instead of focusing on the direct destruction of launch platforms, intelligence and operational teams decided to target the support network and refueling chain of the distant bases.

The logic behind this decision was simple yet clever. Despite the long distance, fighters and AWACS deployed at Al-Kharj and Al-Azraq depended on aerial refueling to continue their missions. Although the bases themselves appeared impenetrable, the tankers in the sky or traveling between bases were deemed the vulnerable point of this complex network.

Designing this breakthrough required months of relentless intelligence gathering and monitoring. The flight patterns of the tankers, their timing, rotation routes, and even the locations of fuel maintenance and control units were recorded one by one.

Combined Operation and Strike on Military Tankers

The combined operation began. Within a limited timeframe, multiple drones and missiles simultaneously targeted various points of this chain. The outcome exceeded initial expectations. Seven military tankers sustained serious damage, two of which were completely destroyed, their wreckage left in the desert.

Destruction of THAAD and AWACS: Support Center Taken Out of Commission

Yet, this was only part of the damage. At least one THAAD defense system—considered among the most expensive and sensitive anti-missile equipment—was completely disabled and destroyed. Another AWACS aircraft was targeted and crashed during the same wave.

The tanker maintenance and control center, which played a vital role in sustaining air operations, was severely damaged and effectively taken out of commission. Even the quarters housing U.S. personnel were destroyed or suffered significant damage in these attacks, demonstrating high precision and complete awareness of sensitive locations.