At least 17 United States military, diplomatic, and air-defense installations across the Middle East have been damaged in Iranian drone and missile strikes since the beginning of joint military attacks against Iran by Israel and Washington, according to an analysis published Wednesday by The New York Times.The report states that at least 11 of the damaged locations are US military bases or installations, representing nearly half of all American military facilities in the region.Among the most significant losses were advanced air-defense systems. Satellite imagery reportedly revealed damage to a $1.1 billion early-warning radar facility near Umm Dahal. The radar system was designed to monitor potential threats across a radius of approximately 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) across the Middle East.
Iranian strikes also targeted components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, a key element of the United States’ regional missile defense network.According to a Pentagon assessment cited by a congressional official, an Iranian strike on the headquarters of the United States Navy Fifth Fleet in Manama on February 28 caused an estimated $200 million in damages.Iran also targeted American diplomatic facilities across the region, forcing the temporary closure of the US consulate in Dubai and embassies in Kuwait City and Riyadh. However, no casualties were reported in those incidents.US officials told the newspaper that the scale and coordination of the strikes indicate that Iran was more prepared for the conflict than many within the administration of Donald Trump had anticipated.
The escalation in the Middle East began after Israel and the United States launched joint attacks against Iran on February 28. Reports claim that more than 1,200 people have been killed in the conflict so far, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.In retaliatory strikes carried out by Iran, approximately 140 US service members have been wounded, while eight have reportedly been killed since the start of the military campaign.
