New Delhi, May 02: At least 16 American military bases and installations in the Middle East were damaged by Iranian strikes during the 39-day conflict, according to a new investigation by CNN.
The report says the damage includes high-value targets, with some facilities left effectively unusable. In several cases, the impact is described as severe enough to render sites virtually inoperable.
The affected installations are located in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq. Some sites reportedly suffered extensive damage to critical communications and radar systems.
The findings suggest that a significant number of US military positions in the region were impacted, a congressional aide was quoted as saying. The investigation is based on satellite imagery and interviews with sources in the United States and Gulf countries.
“There has been a spectrum of assessments—from claims that entire facilities are destroyed and need to be shut down, to views that they are repairable due to their strategic importance,” the report said.
Satellite images indicate that Iran targeted advanced radar systems, communications infrastructure, and aircraft—assets that are costly and difficult to replace.
Pentagon Comptroller Jules “Jay” Hurst III told lawmakers that the war has cost the United States around $25 billion so far, though internal estimates reportedly place the figure closer to $40–50 billion.Iran has repeatedly maintained that US bases in the Gulf region were used to launch actions against it, framing its strikes as retaliatory.
