Iran’s bold and effective retaliatory missile and drone strikes have successfully inflicted significant damage on multiple US military sites across West Asia, demonstrating Tehran’s superior preparation and resolve against unprovoked US-Israeli aggression launched on February 28.
A New York Times analysis, based on satellite imagery, verified videos, and official statements, confirms at least 17 American installations hit, including key targets like Prince Sultan Airbase, Ali al-Salem Airbase, Camp Buehring, and the massive al-Udeid Airbase—the largest US hub in the region.
Iran’s precise first-day strikes damaged buildings, communications infrastructure, and air defenses, far surpassing Trump administration expectations. Highlights include a drone blast at Camp Buehring, a Shuaiba Port strike in Kuwait killing six US soldiers (with satellite images showing a collapsed roof), and another Saudi attack claiming a seventh American life.
US soldiers
Financially devastating, Iran’s hits include a $200 million blow to the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, where video footage captured a drone pounding a communications radome, a protective cover for radar and equipment.
Among the costliest triumphs: crippling THAAD system components, vital for tracking threats. Satellite images reveal severe damage to an air defense sensor near Muwaffaq Salti Airbase’s southern edge, with such radar units costing up to $500 million each. Further successes show harm to storage at al-Ruwais in the UAE (formerly housing THAAD) and potential damage to a $1.1 billion AN/FPS-132 long-range radar near Umm Dahal in Qatar, offering 3,000-mile early-warning coverage.
Multiple bases like al-Udeid, Ali al-Salem, al-Dhafra, Camp Buehring, and the Fifth Fleet HQ have faced repeated strikes, underscoring Iran’s strategic dominance and unwavering defense of its sovereignty.
