US-Iran war: US military bases in the Gulf region suffered far more extensive damage by recent Iranian strikes than publicly disclosed, according to a report by NBC News, citing officials familiar with
internal assessments.
As per the report, Iranian strikes since the start of US and Israeli operations on February 28 hit multiple facilities in at least seven countries, which included targets like warehouses, command centres, aircraft hangars, and satellite communications systems. It also damaged runways, radar systems, and even some aircraft, which are all critical for military movement and surveillance
Despite the presence of advanced US air defence systems, the report noted vulnerabilities in protection. In one instance, even an Iranian F-5 fighter jet was able to penetrate defences and carry out a strike, raising concerns about gaps in the system.
The US Defence Department has not shared full details about how much damage was actually caused by the Iranian strikes. Even the US Central Command, which handles military operations in that region, refused to comment on the extent of the damage.
However, some Republican lawmakers have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency. One aide even said that despite asking for weeks, they still don’t know the full picture, especially at a time when the Pentagon is asking for a record-high budget.
“No one knows anything. And it’s not for lack of asking. We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record high budget,” a congressional aide was quoted as saying,
According to the report, the cost of repairing the damaged bases and equipment is expected to run into billions of dollars. The scale of destruction could also reignite debate in Washington over the risks of maintaining US military bases in close proximity to adversaries like Iran.
The Pentagon has not detailed the extent of the damage to US military bases publicly, according to the report, with US Central Command declining to comment on battle damage assessments.
The developments come amid rising military expenditure, with the Pentagon reportedly seeking over $200 billion in additional funding linked to the conflict, even as broader defence budget proposals continue to climb.
In just the first week of the conflict, the US had already spent over $11 billion on its military operations. Before the war began, Trump had called for a $1.5 trillion defence budget, a more than 50 per cent increase from the previous year.
