Iran Strikes Leave Costly Damage to US Bases

Iranian attacks on US military facilities across the Gulf region have caused billions of dollars in damage, according to officials familiar with the assessments, raising questions in Washington about the scale of the losses and the information provided to lawmakers. Six people briefed on the damage told NBC News that Iranian strikes hit a range of infrastructure and equipment, including runways, radar systems, aircraft, command centres and satellite communications facilities. The destruction spans several countries in the Middle East and could cost as much as $5bn to repair.

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The estimated figure covers structural damage to bases and infrastructure but does not include the cost of repairing or replacing radar equipment, weapons systems, aircraft and other military assets that were damaged or destroyed.

US defence officials have not publicly detailed the full scale of the damage. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill.

Damage reported across multiple bases

According to officials familiar with the assessments, the attacks affected several American installations across the region.

Early in the conflict, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet reportedly struck the US base at Camp Buehring in Kuwait within the first few days of fighting. The war began on 28 February following a wave of US and Israeli strikes.

Other facilities also sustained damage. At Al Dhafra Air Base and Al Ruwais military base in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian strikes reportedly damaged fuel storage sites, aircraft hangars, barracks, warehouses and a medical clinic.

Additional US-linked installations reported damage as well, including Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

In Kuwait, officials said Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring and the Shuaiba Port facility were also affected.

Three officials told NBC News that Iranian attacks later caused extensive damage to the headquarters building used by the US Navy in Bahrain and destroyed at least two air defence systems.

Repairs to the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain alone could cost around $200m, according to a congressional official cited by The New York Times following a Pentagon review.

Independent assessment points to wider impact

An external analysis by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) suggests the damage may extend further.

The think tank said Iranian strikes also hit Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, damaged a runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and struck a munitions storage facility at a base in northern Iraq.

Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at AEI, said rebuilding costs could include repairing damaged infrastructure, reconstructing facilities or replacing equipment entirely.

She noted that in some cases the destruction may require the abandonment or decommissioning of damaged sites.

“War damage also includes estimated costs for infrastructure that is unsalvageable,” Eaglen said in comments reported by NBC News.

Military equipment also affected

Officials familiar with the damage said several aircraft and systems were also hit.

Among the reported losses were at least one fighter jet, a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, two MC-130 tanker aircraft, helicopters and an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane.

The cost of repairing or replacing such equipment has not been included in the initial $5bn estimate for infrastructure damage.

Questions over war costs

The scale of the damage has also drawn attention in Congress, where lawmakers say they have received limited information about the financial cost of the conflict.

In March, the Pentagon estimated that the first six days of military operations against Iran cost more than $11.3bn. That figure did not include reconstruction or repair expenses.

Officials also said $5.6bn was spent on munitions during the first two days of fighting.

Some congressional aides said briefings from the Pentagon about the costs of the war have been limited.

“No one knows anything. And it’s not for lack of asking,” one aide told NBC News, adding that staff had repeatedly requested more detailed figures.

The aide said the lack of information has caused concern among lawmakers, particularly as the Pentagon seeks approval for a record defence budget.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 27 April 2026