Satellite Analysis Reveals 20 US Military Bases Damaged by Iranian Attacks
An in-depth analysis of satellite imagery and video by BBC Verify has revealed that Iran has damaged at least 20 United States military sites since the beginning of the conflict. These findings indicate that the scale of Tehran’s attacks is far wider and more precise than what is publicly acknowledged by Washington authorities.
Since late February, Iran has reportedly targeted key facilities in eight Middle Eastern countries. The attacks have caused damage worth millions of dollars to advanced air defence systems, aerial refuelling aircraft, and radar infrastructure. The affected regions include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman.
Among the most significant losses is the damage to three advanced anti-ballistic missile battery systems at Al Ruwais and Al Sader airbases in the UAE, and the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The US is known to operate only eight Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries worldwide, with a single unit costing approximately US$1 billion to produce.
In addition to air defence systems, Iranian attacks also hit strategic aerial assets at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Expert analysis identified damage to E-3 Sceptre reconnaissance aircraft, which are estimated to have a replacement value of up to US$700 million.
Experts noted a shift in Iranian military tactics during the war. Dr Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Centre explained that Iran has moved from mass wave attacks aimed at paralysing air defences to smaller, highly precise strikes using inexpensive drones. “Iran has shifted to more precisely targeted salvos, conserving missiles and drones for high-value targets, where even the impact of close-range attacks can cause significant damage,” said Grieco.
Responding to these findings, US defence officials declined to comment citing operational security. However, there have been tangible efforts to limit public analysis after the US requested that major satellite imagery provider, Planet, impose an indefinite restriction on the latest images of Iran and much of the Middle East.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, claimed in a statement on Tuesday (2/6) that the Middle East is no longer a safe place for American bases. Although the White House has repeatedly stated that Iran’s military capabilities are nearly destroyed, evidence on the ground shows that Tehran’s counter-attack capabilities remain a serious threat to the stability of the US regional defence network.
This situation places a fragile ceasefire at great risk. With US air defence interceptor stocks depleting rapidly and no rapid replenishment routes available, analysts warn that US facilities in the Gulf will be highly vulnerable if full-scale fighting breaks out again.