Iran Damaged 20 US Military Sites Across 8 Countries, Hitting $1 Billion THAAD Batteries
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 1
Iran Damaged 20 US Military Sites Across 8 Countries, Hitting $1 Billion THAAD Batteries
5 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 1
Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify shows Iran has damaged 20 US military sites across eight Middle East countries since late February, indicating a broader campaign than US officials have publicly acknowledged.
Three THAAD missile-defense batteries—systems that cost about $1 billion each—were hit in the UAE and Jordan, while refueling, surveillance and communications assets were also damaged at bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
At least 42 aircraft have been destroyed or damaged since February, including F-15s, F-35s, 24 MQ-9 Reapers and an A-10; one damaged E-3 Sentry alone could cost up to $700 million to replace.
Analysts said Iran shifted from mass missile barrages to smaller, more precise strikes on high-value targets, exploiting what one called early US complacency in leaving aircraft within range.
The findings undercut White House claims that Iran's military was nearly wiped out and raise fresh concern that, after more than 13,000 US strikes on Iran and a fragile ceasefire, Gulf bases remain vulnerable if fighting resumes.
Have cheap drones and asymmetric tactics effectively neutralized America's overwhelming airpower advantage in the Persian Gulf?
With Iran’s new leader seeking a bomb, did the war accidentally create the very nuclear threat it aimed to prevent?
U.S.-Iran War Escalates in 2026: Oil Supply Crisis, Regional Spillover, and Uncertain Resolution
Overview
In late May 2026, as diplomatic efforts aimed at ending a three-month-old war were underway, U.S. military strikes targeted Iran after Iranian missile batteries were seen aiming at U.S. Navy ships. This escalation came despite earlier claims by U.S. leaders that Iran’s military had been severely weakened since the conflict began in February with U.S. and Israeli attacks. The new strikes highlighted the ongoing military tensions and the fragile state of negotiations, complicating hopes for a lasting peace and underscoring the risks of further escalation in an already volatile situation.