Satellite images and videos analyzed by BBC Verify indicate that Iran has caused damage to 20 US military sites since the onset of the conflict, suggesting a level of impact greater than previously reported. The attacks have targeted facilities across eight countries in the Middle East since late February, resulting in significant damage to advanced air defense systems, refueling aircraft, and radar installations.
Iran's military actions are reported to be in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes in Iran and Lebanon over the past three months. The Pentagon claims to have targeted over 13,000 locations in Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has emphasized the military's success in striking US facilities, stating that the Middle East is no longer a secure environment for American bases.
Despite White House assertions that Iran's military capabilities have been severely diminished, analysts suggest that the damage inflicted on US facilities indicates that Iran's counter-attacks have been more effective than acknowledged by US officials. A US defense official declined to comment on the findings due to operational security concerns.
The US has attempted to limit satellite analysis of the conflict by requesting restrictions on new images of Iran and much of the Middle East from Planet, a satellite imagery provider. BBC Verify utilized satellite imagery from other international sources, along with older images from Planet, to assess the damage. The affected facilities are located in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman, with estimates suggesting that the number of bases impacted could be as high as 28.
Significant damage has been reported to three advanced anti-ballistic missile battery systems located at airbases in the UAE and Jordan. These systems are part of a complex regional defense network and are costly to manufacture and operate. Additionally, Iranian strikes have reportedly damaged US refueling and surveillance aircraft at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, with visible damage noted in satellite imagery.
The extent of the damage to US facilities remains difficult to quantify, but a Pentagon estimate from May placed the total cost of Operation Epic Fury at $29 billion, likely encompassing repair and replacement costs for destroyed equipment. Reports indicate that at least 42 aircraft, including various fighter jets and drones, have been damaged or destroyed since February.
Iran is believed to have utilized inexpensive drones in its attacks, and experts note that Iranian tactics have evolved from broad missile barrages to more precise strikes targeting high-value assets. Analysts have suggested that the US military may have underestimated the threat posed by Iranian capabilities, leading to vulnerabilities at certain bases.
Khamenei has asserted that the region will no longer serve as a safe haven for American military bases, emphasizing a shift in the geopolitical landscape. His statements coincided with renewed tensions following recent US strikes in southern Iran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming to have targeted an American base in the region.
