Satellite imagery analysed by BBC Verify shows that Iran has damaged 20 U.S. military sites across eight countries in the Middle East since the end of February. The attacks have caused millions of dollars of damage to high‑value air‑defence systems, refuelling aircraft and radar installations.
The target locations include critical assets such as the Al Ruwais and Al Sader airbases in the United Arab Emirates, and Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan, all of which host state‑of‑the‑art anti‑ballistic missile batteries. The four Terminal High‑Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries deployed by the U.S. cost roughly $1 billion each and require a crew of about one hundred. The cost of launching a THAAD interceptor is around $12.7 million.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has declared the region no longer a “safe place” for U.S. bases, while Tehran’s strike tactics have evolved from large, uncoordinated missile salvos to precise, heavily‑targeted attacks that inflict damage even with near misses.
BBC Verify has linked satellite photos from multiple providers – including older images from Planet – to uncover the extent of the damage. A United Nations‑style map in the report shows all active U.S. bases that have been hit, spanning Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain and Oman.
A key highlight is the damage to a U.S. E‑3 Sentry surveillance aircraft at Prince Sultan Airbase, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft was visibly destroyed, and analysts estimate its replacement cost at up to $700 million. Additional losses include at least 42 aircraft – comprising F‑15s, F‑35s, MQ‑9 Reapers and an A‑10 – since February.
The Pentagon’s estimate for Operation Epic Fury, which includes the costs of repairing or replacing destroyed equipment, stands at $29 billion. Democratic lawmakers argue the figure likely underestimates the true cost.
The damage reveals the extent of pressure on U.S. air‑defence stocks. Analysts warn that with substantial parts of the fleet destroyed, U.S. and partner forces have a limited ability for rapid replenishment. Consequently, any resurgence of Iranian attacks could exploit the depleted interceptor inventory.
With the cease‑fire between the U.S. and Iran under increasing strain, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps recently announced targeting a U.S. base, raising concerns over the stability of the current truce and the vulnerability of U.S. forces in the Gulf.
Additional reporting by Barbara Metzler and Tom Gould. For further details, read the full BBC Verify feature article here.
