Iran’s Recent Strikes Impact 20 U.S. Military Sites

Mon Jun 01 2026 09:45:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Satellite imagery reveals that Iran has damaged 20 U.S. military bases across the Middle East since February, highlighting the scale of the conflict.

Using satellite data, BBC Verify has mapped 20 attacks on U.S. bases in eight countries, including damage to anti‑ballistic missile batteries and surveillance aircraft. Analysts suggest the United States may have under‑reported this damage; the Pentagon estimates the operation cost $29 billion, with much of that earmarked for repair or replacement. The report warns that renewed Iranian assaults could be even more devastating if U.S. air‑defence capacity has been depleted.

Iran’s Recent Strikes Impact 20 U.S. Military Sites

Satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify shows that Iran has damaged 20 U.S. military sites since the war began in February. The attacks targeted key facilities across eight Middle‑East countries, from Saudi Arabia to Oman.

The damage includes three state‑of‑the‑art anti‑ballistic missile batteries at the Al Ruwais and Al Sader airbases in the UAE and at Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery alone costs roughly $1 billion, and each interceptor costs about $12.7 million.

A surveillance aircraft, identified as an E‑3 Sentry and valued at up to $700 million, was destroyed in a strike on Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia. The image shows a smoking crater and wreckage of the plane’s tail.

Other facilities hit include docking bays at Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait, as well as damaged fuel storage and satellite communications equipment at Camp Arifjan.

The U.S. has confirmed more than 13 000 targets were struck by Iranian forces, but analysts suggest the actual scope of damage may be larger. A Pentagon estimate puts the cost of “Operation Epic Fury” at $29 billion, with many dollars earmarked for repair or replacement of the destroyed equipment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader has vowed that the region will no longer serve as a “shield” for American bases, urging the United States to withdraw. The U.S. has labeled the weapons used by Iran as “cheap” compared to their high‑value targets.

Experts warn that if the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran falters, the already weakened U.S. air‑defence capacity could be incapable of intercepting a new wave of Iranian missiles and drones.