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Iranian retaliatory strikes cause massive US military losses
An assessment by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and BBC analysis reveals Iranian attacks on American military sites in the Middle East have resulted in approximately $800 million in infrastructure damage within the first two weeks of the conflict.
Extent of destruction remains unclear
While the $800 million figure surpasses earlier reports, the full scope of damage to US assets in the region is still not fully documented. Mark Cancian, a CSIS senior adviser and co-author of the study, noted that the true cost may only emerge with more information.
"The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported. Although that appears to be extensive, the full amount won't be known until more information is available."
Mark Cancian, CSIS Senior Adviser
The US Department of Defense directed inquiries to US Central Command, which declined to comment on the findings.
Key targets: radar and satellite systems
Iran's strikes primarily focused on US air-defense and satellite-communication systems across Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other Middle Eastern nations. A significant blow was dealt to a Thaad missile defense radar at a Jordanian air base, with the AN/TPY-2 radar system valued at around $485 million.
Additional damage, estimated at $310 million, affected buildings, facilities, and other infrastructure on US and allied military bases. Satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify indicates that Iran has repeatedly targeted at least three air bases-Ali Al-Salim in Kuwait, Al-Udeid in Qatar, and Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia-highlighting a deliberate strategy to degrade US assets.
Human and strategic costs mount
The conflict has also taken a human toll, with 13 US service members killed since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), the overall death toll has reached nearly 3,200, including 1,400 civilians.
President Donald Trump stated that the US is progressing toward its objectives of dismantling Iran's nuclear program, weakening its conventional military, and curbing its support for proxy groups. However, the war has disrupted global markets, particularly due to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and raised concerns about the potential deployment of US ground troops.
Satellite imagery reveals patterns of attack
Despite restrictions on satellite imagery from major US providers, analysis has identified consistent targets in Iran's retaliatory campaign. Early strikes hit a US naval base in Bahrain, focusing on radar and satellite systems critical to modern military operations.
Satellite images show the destruction of two radomes-protective enclosures for sensitive equipment-though the full extent of damage to the systems inside remains unclear. Radar sites at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base were also hit, with imagery of the latter showing smoke rising from a Thaad radar component.
More severe damage to Thaad systems is evident at bases in the UAE and Jordan, though the financial impact is not yet quantified. Reports suggest the degradation of these systems prompted the US to redeploy Thaad components from South Korea to the Middle East.
War costs escalate beyond initial strikes
The $800 million in damage from Iranian strikes represents only a portion of the overall financial burden on the US. Pentagon officials informed Congress that the first six days of the war cost $11.3 billion, with expenses rising to $16.5 billion by the twelfth day, according to CSIS.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated on Thursday that the Pentagon's request for an additional $200 billion in funding could increase. "It takes money to kill bad guys," he remarked.
