Iranian strikes on military bases used by the US in the Middle East caused about $800 million (£600 million) in damage in the first two weeks of the war, according to a new analysis.
Much of the destruction was attributed to initial retaliatory strikes by Iran, which followed the US and Israel’s offensive. The considerable damages include costs to advanced military infrastructure, as reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and analyzed by BBC Verify.
The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported, stated Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at CSIS. He noted that the full extent may not be accurately assessed until further information comes to light.
The Iranian retaliation specifically targeted US air-defense and satellite communication systems across multiple nations, including Jordan and the UAE. A notable event was a strike on a critical radar system in Jordan, which alone is valued at approximately $485 million.
Further damages to buildings and facilities on US bases and those utilized by US forces amounted to an estimated additional $310 million. Satellite imagery confirmed that Iran has executed repeat strikes on certain air bases, indicating a strategic targeting of US military assets, possibly aided by intelligence shared by Russia.
Overall, the strikes underscore the escalating costs of the conflict, with estimates indicating that the initial days of combat incurred costs as high as $11.3 billion for the US.
Military officials have requested additional funding of $200 billion for the ongoing war effort, emphasizing the significant financial burden posed by sustained military operations.
