Washington: The series of recent Iranian strikes has inflicted far greater damage on US military bases and equipment across the Persian Gulf than initially assessed, raising serious concerns over the vulnerability of American installations in the region.
According to an NBC News report citing officials, the scale of destruction has exceeded early estimates, with repair costs expected to run into billions of dollars. The attacks, which began soon after the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, targeted US facilities across multiple countries in the region.
Military infrastructure in at least seven countries was affected, including storage warehouses, command centres, aircraft hangars and satellite communication systems. Critical assets such as runways, radar installations and surveillance aircraft also sustained significant damage, disrupting operational capabilities.
In a striking development, even an ageing Iranian F-5 fighter jet is reported to have penetrated US defence systems to carry out an attack, underscoring gaps in what is considered one of the most advanced military defence networks in the world.
Despite the severity of the situation, the US Department of Defense has not disclosed the full extent of the damage. US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, has also refrained from commenting, further fuelling concerns over a lack of transparency.
The silence has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers, who are increasingly frustrated over the absence of clear information. Questions have been mounting for weeks, particularly at a time when the Pentagon is pushing for a record defence budget, yet a comprehensive picture of the damage remains elusive.
Amid the escalating conflict, the Pentagon is reportedly seeking more than $200 billion from the US Congress to support the war effort. Estimates indicate that the US spent around $11 billion on military operations in just the first week of fighting.