Iranian Strikes Inflict Over $5 Billion Damage on U.S. Bases

Iranian retaliatory strikes on U.S. military bases across the Middle East since late February have caused far more extensive damage than publicly acknowledged, with repair costs exceeding $5 billion and significant vulnerabilities exposed in American defenses, according to sources familiar with intelligence assessments.

The attacks began following U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran on February 28. Iran targeted more than 100 sites at 11 U.S. bases in at least seven regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Affected facilities included warehouses, command centers, aircraft hangars, satellite communications systems, runways, radar installations and dozens of military aircraft. Initial estimates placed the damage at over $5 billion, though officials indicated the true figure is substantially higher and has not been fully disclosed.

A notable breach occurred when an aging Iranian F-5 fighter jet penetrated air defenses to strike Camp Buehring in Kuwait, marking the first successful enemy fixed-wing aircraft attack on a U.S. base in decades. This incident, along with several missiles evading U.S. and allied systems, surprised military leaders despite the...