Satellite Review Finds Damage at 20 U.S. Sites After Iran Strikes

Satellite imagery and video analysis indicates Iranian attacks have damaged 20 U.S. military sites across eight Middle Eastern countries since late February, according to the assessment described in the source material. The findings suggest the impact may be broader than U.S. officials have publicly detailed. The sites include U.S. bases and shared facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman.

The analysis described in the source says the actual figure could be higher, with some analysts placing the number of bases hit as high as 28. A U.S. defense official declined to comment on the findings, citing operational security reasons.

The reporting also says the U.S. has sought to limit fresh satellite analysis of the conflict by requesting Planet, a commercial imagery provider, to impose an “indefinite” restriction on new images of Iran and most of the Middle East. The company said it wanted to ensure its images were not used by adversarial actors to target allied personnel and civilians. The analysis referenced in the source relied on imagery from other international providers, combined with older images from Planet.

Air defenses and aircraft among the reported damage

Among the equipment cited as damaged were three Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile batteries at Al Ruwais and Al Sader airbases in the UAE and at Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan. The source material says each battery costs around $1 billion to manufacture and that the U.S. is known to operate eight THAAD batteries globally.

The assessment also points to damage at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia involving U.S. refueling and surveillance aircraft. One aircraft was identified by an analyst as an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, according to the source.

In Kuwait, the analysis cited damage at Ali Al Salem Airbase and Camp Arifjan, including destroyed fuel storage bunkers, aircraft hangars, troop accommodation, and damage to satellite communications hardware.

Cost estimates and how tactics reportedly evolved

The Pentagon’s May estimate put the total cost of Operation Epic Fury at $29 billion, with much of it likely tied to repair or replacement of equipment destroyed in the conflict, according to the source. The source says Democrats argued that estimate was likely an underestimate.

The analysis also reported that at least 42 aircraft—including F-15 and F-35 fighter jets, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, and an A-10 attack plane—have been damaged or destroyed since February. The reporting described Iranian tactics as shifting over time from mass barrages to more precise, directed strikes, including the use of inexpensive, replaceable drones.

Further assessments will likely focus on whether additional sites were hit and how quickly damaged air defenses, aircraft, and communications systems can be repaired or replaced.