Most US Middle East military sites damaged in war with Iran: Report
Washington, May 2
Iran and its allies have damaged at least 16 US military sites across eight Middle Eastern countries during the US-Israeli war with Iran starting on February 28, rendering some of those positions virtually unusable, a CNN investigation has found.
The damaged facilities constitute the majority of US military sites in the region, according to the CNN report, citing a congressional aide familiar with the damage assessments.
"There has been a spectrum of assessments," a source said. "From a pretty dramatic side, of the whole facility is destroyed and needs to be shut down, to leaders who say these things are worth repairing due to the strategic benefit they give the US."
Satellite images showed that Tehran's main targets included US advanced radar systems, communications systems and aircraft deployed in the Middle East, many of them expensive and difficult to replace, said the report, which drew on dozens of satellite images and interviews with sources in the United States and Gulf Arab nations.
"It's notable they really identified those facilities as the most cost-effective targets to hit," the congressional aide said. "Our radar systems (are) our most expensive and our most limited resources in the region."
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III told lawmakers on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran had so far cost US taxpayers 25 billion USD.
Repairs to the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters could total $200 million alone, one congressional official told The New York Times following a Pentagon assessment.
An external assessment from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) shows Iranian forces also struck Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, a runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and a munitions storage facility at a military base in northern Iraq, per NBC.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who follows international affairs, I'm surprised at how effective Iran's strikes were. But $25 billion already? And repairs costing $200 million for just one base? That's taxpayer money that could be used for infrastructure back home. Wars are so expensive.
This reminds me of how Iraq's military crumbled under US bombardment. Now tables have turned. India must stay neutral and diplomatic—our relationship with both Iran and the US is crucial. We can't afford to take sides in this escalating conflict. Praying for peace. 🙏
Interesting how Iran targeted radar and communication systems—that's smart asymmetric warfare. But I worry about escalation. If US bases are "virtually unusable," the response might be disproportionate. This could spiral into something much bigger than a regional conflict.
The US has bases all over the Gulf, but Iran proving they can touch any of them is a game-changer. India needs to strengthen its own defence and not rely on any superpower for security in the Indian Ocean. Also, our oil imports from Iran might become trickier. 🛢️
A critical point: the congressional aide said hitting radar systems was "cost-effective." That's a concerning insight into Iran's targeting priorities. If the US can't protect its expensive assets, what does that mean for our allies in the region? I think diplomacy is the only way out now.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.