Scale of Damage ‘Far Greater’: 228 US Sites Hit in Iranian Strikes: Report

Darwin, 08 May : A special report published Wednesday by The Washington Post says that at least 228 structures used by the United States military in the Middle East have been damaged or destroyed by Iranian airstrikes since the start of the war.

According to the newspaper’s analysis of satellite imagery, the strikes targeted key infrastructure at US bases across the region. These included aircraft shelters, barracks, fuel depots, military aircraft, as well as critical radar, communication, and air defense systems.

The Washington Post noted that the scale of the damage appears to be significantly greater than what the US government has publicly acknowledged or what has been reported previously.

Earlier, CNN reported widespread damage at no fewer than 16 US military bases in the region, pointing to a growing impact of Iranian attacks.

Officials cited in the report warned that the threat of continued airstrikes has made some US bases in the Middle East “extremely dangerous” for routine troop deployment. As a result, commanders have relocated a substantial portion of their forces out of the range of Iranian strikes since the early days of the conflict.

However, a US military spokesperson cautioned against interpreting the findings as evidence of overwhelming destruction or operational failure. The spokesperson emphasized that assessing damage in conflict zones is complex and may sometimes lead to misleading conclusions.

The spokesperson also said a more comprehensive assessment of Iranian attacks would likely be available after the war ends.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently told Congress that the cost of the war with Iran could reach $25 billion. He also acknowledged that replenishing expended ammunition and military equipment may take months or even years.

In a related development, the Pentagon has requested a budget exceeding $1.5 trillion for the fiscal year 2027, marking a 40 to 50 percent increase following the outbreak of the conflict with Iran.