US bases suffered massive damage in Iranian strikes

Repair May Cost DC Billions

Recent Iranian strikes caused significant damage to US military bases and equipment in the Gulf, with costs for repairs expected to reach billions of dollars. While initial reports suggested limited impact, US officials and sources indicate the destruction is far more extensive than acknowledged.

Since the conflict began on Feb 28, Iran has launched attacks on military sites across at least seven countries. The strikes have targeted warehouses, command centres, aircraft hangars and satellite communication systems. 

Critical infrastructure such as runways and radar systems sustained damage. Notably, an older Iranian F-5 fighter jet successfully carried out a strike despite the presence of advanced US air defence systems. The US Defence Dept has refrained from providing a full account of the damage, and the US Central Command has declined to comment. 

This perceived lack of transparency has led to anger among Republican lawmakers. A congressional aide said they had been asking for specifics for weeks without success, even as the Pentagon seeks a record-high budget.

Financially, the conflict is already costly. The Pentagon is seeking over $200 billion from the US Congress to fund Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran. In the first week alone, the US spent more than $11 billion on military operations. Prior to the war, Trump had proposed a $1.5 trillion defence budget, representing a more than 50% rise over the previous year. Curre­ntly, the US Congress has approved a $838.5 billion defence budget for 2026. The strikes and the resulting damage continue to fuel debate over transparency and military spending. 

Meanwhile, US military forces continue to enforce “US sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports,” US Central Command said.

–Agencies