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Verified images indicate that a U.S. command-and-control aircraft has been destroyed at an air base in Saudi Arabia.

The photos, which appear to have first circulated on a Facebook page focused on U.S. military news, show an E-3 Sentry aircraft seemingly torn into two sections.

Analysis confirms the images were taken at Prince Sultan Air Base, located roughly 100km (62 miles) southeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Visual details in the photos — including pylons, storage structures, and ground markings — align with satellite imagery of the site.

U.S. Central Command has not publicly addressed the situation. The BBC has requested comment.

A U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that 12 American personnel were wounded during an Iranian military strike on the base, including two who were seriously injured. The Wall Street Journal reported that at least two U.S. refueling aircraft also sustained damage.

On Sunday, Iran’s IRGC-linked Fars news agency reported that a Shahed drone hit the E-3 aircraft.

Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify shows an E-3 positioned at the same location on March 11, though it remains unclear whether it is the same aircraft.

One of the verified images reveals the aircraft’s tail number. Cross-referencing this with data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 indicates the plane was airborne near the base on March 18.

A satellite image captured Friday appears to show a fire burning on the air base apron approximately 1,600m (5,200ft) east of the E-3’s location. It is not known whether this fire is مرتبط with the same incident that damaged the aircraft in the images.

The Boeing E-3 Awacs — short for Airborne Warning and Control System — is built on a Boeing 707 airliner platform and is recognizable by its rotating radar dome mounted on the rear of the fuselage.

This system enables the aircraft to identify and monitor targets over long distances, providing early warning of potential threats during combat missions.

According to the U.S. Air Force website, the aircraft delivers "information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle".

First introduced into service in 1977, the E-3 is expected to remain operational with the U.S. Air Force through 2035.