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New Photos Reveal Extensive Damage to U.S. Bases After Iranian Missile and Drone Strikes
By Drooid · · How we work
Extent of Damage Across the Region
CBS News obtained a series of previously unseen photographs sent by active-service members who requested anonymity. The images show severe destruction at multiple U.S. installations throughout the Middle East, including a direct hit that severed the tail of a Boeing E-3 Sentry at Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia, charred wreckage of vehicles, and hollowed-out barracks at Camp Buehring and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The photos also depict destroyed trailers and cars, illustrating that the Iranian aerial assault compromised structures that were previously considered fortified against ground attacks.
Reported Losses and Scope of the Attacks
The Defense Department’s inspector general, in a mandatory report to Congress, estimated equipment losses of up to $3.7 billion, citing the destruction of nearly 60 aircraft. U.S. Central Command confirmed that Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. The report marks the first public accounting of the material damage caused by the recent Iranian campaign.
Service-Member Accounts and Official Reaction
The same individual referenced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier description of the March 1 attack on the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait as involving “squirters,” emphasizing that the current strikes were far more destructive. The Pentagon declined to comment when approached for additional information.
Implications for U.S. Force Protection
The newly documented damage raises questions about the adequacy of existing base fortifications against aerial threats. With significant aircraft and infrastructure losses, the United States may need to reassess defensive postures, allocate additional resources for repairs, and consider adjustments to force-protection strategies across the region. The lack of public disclosure until now also highlights challenges in communicating operational impacts to both service members and the broader American audience.