Iran Damages 20 US Military Sites

Iran has damaged 20 US military sites. Satellite images and videos confirm the attacks. These strikes are more extensive than previously known. This information comes from analysis by BBC Verify. Iran targeted key facilities. The attacks began at the end of February. They occurred across eight countries in the Middle East. The damage affects state-of-the-art air defence systems. Refuelling aircraft and radars were also hit. This has caused millions of dollars in damage. Tehran launched these attacks in retaliation. The US and Israel had conducted strikes across Iran and Lebanon. These US-Israeli strikes happened over the past three months. Iran's actions are a response to these attacks. The Pentagon stated it hit more than 13,000 targets in Iran. This was part of Operation Epic Fury. Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran's supreme leader. He highlighted his military's success. He claimed the Middle East is no longer safe for American bases. The White House stated Iran's military was almost wiped out. However, analysts disagree with this view. The damage at US facilities suggests precision. It also suggests extensive Iranian counter-attacks. US officials had not acknowledged this extent. A US defence official declined to comment. They cited “operational security reasons.” The US is limiting satellite analysis. They asked Planet, a major provider, to restrict new images. This restriction is for Iran and much of the Middle East. Planet justified its move. It wanted to prevent image use by adversarial actors. Such use could target allied and Nato-partner personnel. It could also target civilians. BBC Verify used imagery from other international providers. They combined it with older Planet images. This helped track the damage from Iranian attacks. The affected facilities are in Saudi Arabia. They are also in the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman were also hit. The actual number of bases impacted could be higher. Some analysts estimate up to 28 bases were hit. Expensive hardware was damaged. This includes three state-of-the-art air defence systems. These are Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries. They were at Al Ruwais and Al Sader airbases in the UAE. Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan also housed them. The US operates about eight THAAD battery systems globally. Each system costs roughly $1 billion to make. A THAAD battery requires about 100 troops to operate. The interceptors fired cost around $12.7 million each. Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett is the ex-head of the Irish Defence Forces. He told BBC Verify these batteries are crucial. They are central to a highly complex regional defence network. Such a network cannot be replaced quickly or easily. Iranian strikes also hit US refuelling and surveillance aircraft. This occurred at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia. Satellite images show damaged aircraft. Smoking craters are also visible. An E-3 Sentry surveillance plane was identified. Experts estimate its replacement cost could reach $700 million. Iranian attacks also hit Ali Al Salem Airbase. They also struck Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Analysts identified destroyed fuel storage bunkers. Aircraft hangars and troop housing were damaged. This base was hit multiple times. Damage to satellite communications hardware was also identified at Camp Arifjan. The total cost of the damage is hard to calculate. A Pentagon estimate in May put the cost of Operation Epic Fury at $29 billion. Much of this money is likely for repairs and replacements. Democrats believe this is an underestimate. The report also found at least 42 aircraft damaged or destroyed. This includes F-15 and F-35 fighter jets. It also includes 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones. An A-10 attack plane was also affected. Iran reportedly used cheap drones in its attacks. These are easily replaceable. Experts say Iranian tactics evolved. They moved from large missile barrages. These initially targeted cities and bases. Later, they used more precise, directed attacks. Dr Kelly Grieco is an analyst at the Stimson Centre. She explained Iran's shift. "Within days, however, Iran had shifted to smaller, more precisely targeted salvos," she said. They conserved remaining missiles and drones. This focused fire on specific high-value targets. Analyst at MAIAR told BBC Verify about US defence. The US military may have been complacent early on. They did not move aircraft out of range. Tehran's tactics became more sophisticated. Prince Sultan airbase had been attacked before. Aircraft were still present when the latest attack occurred. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made a vow. He stated the region will no longer shield American bases. He added that America will no longer have a safe place.