Iranian strikes on bases used by US caused $800m in damage, new analysis shows
Iranian Strikes on US Bases in Middle East Cost $800m, New Analysis Reveals
A recent evaluation indicates that Iranian attacks on US military installations in the Middle East have incurred approximately $800 million in damages within the first two weeks of the conflict. The report, compiled by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and corroborated by BBC analysis, highlights that the majority of this destruction occurred during Iran’s first wave of retaliation following the US and Israel’s initial strikes. However, the precise scope of the damage remains unclear, with the figure surpassing prior estimates and underscoring the financial toll on American military infrastructure.
“The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported,” noted Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at CSIS and co-author of the study. “While the extent seems significant, the exact total will only be determined with further data.”
The US Department of Defense, when asked for remarks, redirected the BBC to US Central Command, which oversees the war effort. Officials from that command did not provide additional comments. Iranian strikes focused on critical systems such as air-defence networks and satellite communications across Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other Middle Eastern nations. A major portion of the damage stemmed from an assault on a Thaad missile defence radar at a Jordanian air base, which cost roughly $485 million, according to CSIS documentation.
Additional estimated damages to buildings, facilities, and other infrastructure on US and allied military bases amounted to $310 million. Satellites revealed that Iran had struck at least three airfields more than once, demonstrating targeted efforts to disrupt American military assets. These repeated attacks, including fresh damage observed at Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, suggest a strategic focus on radar systems and communication hubs.
Russia is believed to have provided intelligence to Iran about US military positions in the region. The US has also suffered casualties, with 13 military personnel lost since the conflict began on 28 February, when President Donald Trump joined Israel in launching attacks on Iran. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reported a total death toll of nearly 3,200, comprising 1,400 civilians, as the war escalated.
Despite the damage, the war has not yet fully realized President Trump’s stated objectives: dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, weakening its conventional forces, and curbing its support for regional proxies. “We’re doing extremely well in Iran,” Trump remarked at a White House gathering on Friday. Yet, the conflict has unsettled global markets, with the Strait of Hormuz nearing closure and uncertainty over its duration. The financial strain is compounded by the fact that satellite imagery analysis has been constrained by restrictions from major US providers, though patterns in Iran’s targeting strategy have become visible.
Strategic Focus on Radar and Satellite Systems
Satellite imagery highlighted the destruction of two radomes—protective covers for sensitive equipment—during the early stages of the war. While the damage to the systems themselves is likely, the severity remains unknown. The attacks on radar components at US bases in the UAE and Jordan led to the relocation of Thaad systems from South Korea to the Middle East, as US forces adapted to the threat.
Although the $800 million in damages represents a notable portion of the war’s costs, it accounts for only a fraction of the overall expenditure. Defense Department officials reportedly informed Congress that the first six days of the war cost $11.3 billion, rising to $16.5 billion by the 12th day, according to CSIS. These figures illustrate the escalating financial burden on the US as the conflict continues.
