Iran strikes cause $800m damage to US-linked bases, analysis suggests
Satellite data and think tank report point to sustained attacks on key military systems as costs of conflict mount
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Iranian strikes on military bases used by the United States across the Middle East have caused an estimated $800m (£600m) in damage within the first two weeks of the conflict, according to a new analysis.
The estimate, based on research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and further assessment by BBC Verify, suggests the scale of destruction may be higher than previously reported, although the full extent remains unclear.
Much of the damage is believed to have occurred during Iran’s initial wave of retaliatory strikes following coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel.
“The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported,” said Mark Cancian, a co-author of the study, adding that a more complete picture may only emerge as additional information becomes available.
US officials have not publicly confirmed the figures. The US Department of Defense referred enquiries to US Central Command, which declined to comment.
According to the analysis, Iranian strikes targeted critical infrastructure, including air defence and satellite communication systems, across several countries hosting US forces, such as Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
A significant portion of the estimated losses is linked to damage to a high-value AN/TPY-2 radar system, part of the THAAD missile defence network at an air base in Jordan. The system alone is estimated to cost nearly $485m, based on defence budget data reviewed in the report.
Additional damage, estimated at around $310m, affected buildings, facilities and other infrastructure at bases used by US forces in the region.
Satellite imagery analysed by BBC Verify indicates that some locations were struck multiple times, suggesting a deliberate effort to degrade specific military capabilities. Among the bases identified with visible damage are Ali Al-Salim in Kuwait, Al-Udeid in Qatar and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Images show damage emerging at different stages of the conflict, including apparent strikes on radar installations, considered essential for tracking threats and coordinating air defence systems.
Further imagery points to damage at facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, including the destruction of protective radomes used to house sensitive communications and surveillance equipment. While the extent of internal damage is difficult to assess, analysts say such strikes could significantly impair operational effectiveness.
The analysis suggests that Iran’s focus on radar and satellite systems may have disrupted US defensive coordination, with reports indicating that some THAAD components were redeployed from South Korea to reinforce positions in the Middle East.
The reported damage comes alongside rising human and financial costs. The United States has lost 13 service members since the conflict began, while the Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates the overall death toll at nearly 3,200, including about 1,400 civilians.
US President Donald Trump has said military operations are achieving their objectives, including weakening Iran’s military capabilities and targeting its nuclear programme.
However, the conflict has unsettled global markets, with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz raising concerns over energy supplies and the potential for a wider regional escalation.
Despite the $800m estimate, analysts say the damage represents only a fraction of the broader cost of the war. US defence officials have reportedly told lawmakers that the first 12 days alone cost $16.5bn, with further funding requests expected as the conflict continues.
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