WASHINGTON (AP) — The wounded toll among American service members in the ongoing Iran war has now exceeded 300, following a series of attacks on a Saudi air base that resulted in injuries to more than two dozen troops this past week.

On Friday, Iran launched a significant offensive, firing six ballistic missiles and deploying 29 drones targeting the Prince Sultan air base located in Saudi Arabia. This assault caused injuries to at least 15 U.S. troops, with five of them reported to be in serious condition. Initially, U.S. officials cited that at least 10 troops were injured, including two sustaining serious wounds.

In response to escalating tensions, more American military personnel are being deployed to the Middle East. The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship carrying around 2,500 Marines, arrived in the region on Saturday, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command. The USS Tripoli and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard had recently been engaged in exercises around Taiwan before receiving the order to redeploy to the Middle East nearly two weeks ago.

Central Command further indicated that the USS Tripoli not only transports Marines but also includes strike fighter aircraft and amphibious assault assets. Additional naval support is being provided by the USS Boxer along with two other ships and another Marine Expeditionary Unit that are being sent from San Diego to bolster U.S. military presence in the region.

Prior to the arrival of the Marines, the U.S. military had already assembled its largest force in the Middle East in over two decades, comprising two aircraft carriers, several warships, and approximately 50,000 troops. Notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy's latest aircraft carrier, recently departed the Middle East for maintenance and resupply in Europe after a fire incident affected parts of the ship.

On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that the United States is capable of achieving its objectives in the region "without any ground troops," but he emphasized the need for President Trump to remain prepared for various scenarios, ensuring that American forces are positioned to provide the president with maximum flexibility as situations develop.

This is not the first instance of the base being targeted; it has endured multiple attacks in recent weeks, with earlier incidents this week resulting in injuries to 14 U.S. troops, although another attack did not cause any injuries but did damage a U.S. aircraft.

Located about 96 kilometers (60 miles) from Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the Prince Sultan air base is operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force, yet it also supports operations by U.S. forces. Since the onset of the current conflict, which reached a one-month milestone on Saturday, the base has been under constant threat.

Among the wounded is Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, who sustained injuries during an attack on March 1 and tragically died days later, marking him as one of the 13 American service members killed in the war thus far.

The Pentagon has not issued a response concerning the latest casualties at the Saudi base as of Saturday. According to Central Command's statement on Friday, over 300 service members have been wounded in the ongoing conflict, with the majority returning to duty, while 30 remain out of action and 10 are classified as seriously injured.

The conflict has sparked retaliatory strikes by Iran against U.S. allies, including Israel, causing significant disruptions to global air travel and oil exports, resulting in soaring fuel prices. Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage, has further intensified economic ramifications worldwide.

As the strife continues to impact economies beyond the Middle East, President Trump faces increasing pressure to dismantle Iran’s grip on the Strait. The recent attacks on the Saudi air base occurred after Trump had previously stated that negotiations to end the war were "going very well." The president announced that he had given Tehran until April 6 to reopen the strait, while Iran maintains that it has not entered into any negotiations.