Introduction.
Since February 28, 2026, Iranian attacks have severely damaged the network of US bases surrounding Iran. These bases form a line of fortifications, delimiting Iran‘s «influence» and positioning US armed forces to advance and quickly attack the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Are the facilities and critical centers of these bases adequately protected to stop Iranian «death from above» attacks?
What is happening?
At US bases in allied Gulf countries, real and costly structural damage has occurred to runways, hangars, radar systems, AWACS aircraft, and fuel tanks as a result of Iranian drone and missile attacks.
Strategically, Iran demonstrated its ability to disrupt and weaken the network of US air power installations in the region.
Forcing Washington to reconsider whether this “string of large fortresses» creates “more vulnerabilities than benefits”.
Development.
The Pentagon has not released official figures.
However, several reports from NBC News, TBS, and independent analysts agree that the damage to the bases installations is far greater than publicly acknowledged by the Americans.
Reported structural damage:
1. Critical infrastructure hit in 7 Arab countries hosting US bases:
The attacks affected bases located in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq.
They damaged or destroyed warehouses, command centers, hangars, satellite communication systems, runways, radars, and even parked aircraft.
2. Specific confirmed cases:
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia: An E-3 AWACS was destroyed on March 27. On March 13, five KC-135 Stratotankers were damaged en route. A tent housing a THAAD radar system was also destroyed.
Camp Buehring, Kuwait: An older Iranian F-5 managed to penetrate the defenses and drop unguided bombs on the facility.
Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar: It was attacked with 14 short and medium range ballistic missiles.
The U.S. says 13 were shot down and that there were no casualties or damage.
3. Estimated cost incurred:
Repairs are estimated to cost billions of dollars.
Initial estimates put the cost at $800 million in the first two weeks alone. By the end of April, experts estimated the damage at over $5 billion, including runways, command centers, hangars, and sensitive communications and command equipment destroyed.
The American Enterprise Institute estimates that more than 100 targets were hit at 11 U.S. bases.
According to recent intelligence data (military, CIA, NSA, there is “not such agency”) accessed by “The New York Times”, Iran has regained access, following massive US and Israel bombing campaigns, to most—reportedly as many as 70%—of its mobile missile launchers and 70% of its arsenal, including short, medium, and long range missiles. This includes the launchers dedicated to the Strait of Hormuz, whose defense is the responsibility of Iran’s Islamic Republican Guard, which has operational 30 of its 33 missile sites.
The Strategic Impact Achieved by Iran:
1. “Tactical force multipliers” were damaged.
Iran targeted, among other things, radars, communications systems, KC-135 tankers, and AWACS aircraft. These are the systems the U.S. uses to detect threats, refuel aircraft, and direct air operations. Without them, projecting U.S. air power in the region is complicated.
And analysts say this wasn’t “opportunism” on the part of the Iranians. It’s Iranian military doctrine, aimed at blinding (a neutralization more long) U.S. military personnel and equipment.
2. Gaps in the air defenses of the bases.
The fact that an Iranian F-5 penetrated Kuwait‘s defenses indicates weaknesses in defenses against low-altitude threats and in response times.
The twin-engine, supersonic Northrop F-5 light fighter was designed in the 1950s and manufactured in the early 1960s, seeking a cheap and effective aircraft for a broad market for second level countries.
There was also saturation of air defenses by Shahed drones and missiles.
3. Casualties and operational status of the attacked sites.
The Pentagon acknowledges 13 military personnel killed and nearly 400 wounded. Some bases were rendered «uninhabitable,» according to reports from March. And, in several locations, military operations have been disrupted.
4. Political and Allied costs.
Many Republican members of Congress are frustrated by the lack of transparency from the Federal Government. While the Pentagon requests a record budget, the information it provides is insufficient.
The Gulf Arab states hosting US military bases have depleted their national interceptors and are questioning the «security guarantees» provided by the US.
Important operational nuances:
The US dispersed some of its forces stationed in allied Arab countries before the attacks began, aiming to make any base unprofitable. This appears to have been more of a wish than an effective maneuver.
Iranian drone and missile launches fell by more than 90% by the end of March. However, those that «persist target» are highly productive and sensitive ones, radars, SATCOMs, and cisterns.
US authorities do not provide official figures, and there is no verified data. As we’ve already stated, all the information we have comes from leaks, Think Tank estimates, and press articles.