A new investigation published by CBS News claims Iran’s retaliatory strikes caused significantly more damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East than has been publicly acknowledged.
According to the report, Iran responded swiftly after U.S. strikes on February 28, targeting dozens of sites across American bases in seven countries. The attacks reportedly damaged key infrastructure, including command centers, aircraft hangars, runways, satellite communications systems, radar installations, warehouses, and multiple aircraft.
The investigation also highlights a major concern for U.S. air defenses, reporting that an Iranian F-5 fighter jet was able to evade detection and successfully strike a U.S. base in Kuwait — marking the first time in decades that a foreign fighter jet has hit U.S. forces.
While many bases had been partially evacuated ahead of the escalation, thousands of U.S. troops — and in some cases their families — are typically stationed at these locations.
The Pentagon has not publicly released a full damage assessment and has declined to provide detailed briefings, citing operational security. “We do not discuss battle damage assessments,” a Pentagon official said, adding that U.S. forces remain fully operational.
The report further states that the administration requested private satellite companies, including Planet Labs, to limit public access to imagery of the damaged sites, making independent assessments more difficult.
Some Republican lawmakers have reportedly expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, saying they have been unable to obtain clear information on the scale of the damage or repair costs, even as the Pentagon seeks increased funding.
The findings could reignite debate in Washington over the risks of maintaining U.S. bases so close to Iran, with some officials previously advocating relocating assets farther from Tehran’s reach.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
