{"id":20087,"date":"2026-05-07T03:40:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iran-hit-the-us-a-lot-harder-than-we-thought-here-are-the-images-that-prove-it\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T03:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:40:23","slug":"iran-hit-the-us-a-lot-harder-than-we-thought-here-are-the-images-that-prove-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iran-hit-the-us-a-lot-harder-than-we-thought-here-are-the-images-that-prove-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran hit the US a lot harder than we thought. Here are the images that prove it"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div data-testid=\"ad-sticky-container\" class=\"sc-37562b78-0 iLENDS\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 evuabm adWrapper noPrint sc-1c01c11e-0 jLbRED\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div readability=\"10\">\n<p><span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Evan Hill<\/span>, <span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Jarrett Ley<\/span>, <span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Alex Horton<\/span>, <span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Tara Copp<\/span> and <span class=\"sc-5cbbddda-4 borCAt\">Dan Lamothe<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"article-datetime\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-5 hxoHkT\"><span class=\"sc-a243f860-0 gjmXPs\"><time data-testid=\"storytile-timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-05-07T11:59:36+10:00\">May 7, 2026<!-- --> &mdash; 11:59am<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\" readability=\"6.3137254901961\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\"><\/aside>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"37\">\n<p><strong>Washington\/Virginia<\/strong>: Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at<b> <\/b>US military sites across the Middle East since the war began, hitting hangars, barracks,<b> <\/b>fuel depots, aircraft and key radar, communications and air defence equipment, according to a <em>Washington Post<\/em> analysis of satellite imagery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/12-weeks-jail-for-school-it-support-technician-who-took-upskirt-videos-of-teachers\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">&lt;div&gt;12 weeks' jail for school IT support technician who took upskirt videos of teachers&lt;\/div&gt;<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>The amount of destruction is far larger than has been publicly acknowledged by the US government or previously reported. The threat of air attacks rendered some of the US bases in the region too dangerous to staff at normal levels, and commanders moved most of the personnel from these sites out of range of Iranian fire at the start of the war, officials have said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Washington Post composite of damage to Camp Buehring in Kuwait, released and annotated by Iranian state-affiliated media.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f98e33dc1e04e310919203d834cc517ad80f9de9 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>A Washington Post composite of damage to Camp Buehring in Kuwait, released and annotated by Iranian state-affiliated media.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Centre row: Iranian state-affiliated media; Background: Planet, with Post annotation<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Since the start of the war on February 28, seven service members had died in strikes on US facilities in the region &ndash; six in Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia &ndash; and more than 400 troops had suffered injuries as of late April, the US military said.<\/p>\n<p>While most of the wounded returned to duty within days, at least 12 suffered injuries that military officials classified as serious, according to US officials who, among others, spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Satellite imagery of the Middle East is unusually difficult to acquire at present. Two of the largest commercial providers, Vantor and Planet, have complied with requests from the US government &ndash; their biggest customer &ndash; to limit, delay or indefinitely withhold the publication of imagery of the region while the war is ongoing, making it difficult or impossible to assess Iran&rsquo;s counterstrikes. Those restrictions began less than two weeks into the war.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian state-affiliated news agencies, however, have from the start regularly published high-resolution satellite imagery on their social media accounts that claimed to document damage to US sites.<\/p>\n<div class=\"internal-linking-related-contents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/migrant-acquitted-in-first-trial-over-us-border-military-zones\/\" class=\"template-1\"><span class=\"cta\">News :<\/span><span class=\"postTitle\">Migrant acquitted in first trial over US border military zones<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>For this examination &ndash; one of the first comprehensive public accounts of the damage to US facilities in the region &ndash; <em>The Post<\/em> reviewed more than 100 high-resolution Iranian-released satellite images. <em>The Post<\/em> verified the authenticity of 109 of those images by comparing them with lower-resolution imagery from the European Union&rsquo;s satellite system, Copernicus, as well as high-resolution images from Planet where available. <em>The Post<\/em> excluded 19 Iranian images from the damage analysis because comparisons with the Copernicus imagery were inconclusive. No Iranian imagery was found to have been manipulated.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate search of Planet imagery, <em>Post<\/em> reporters<b> <\/b>found 10 damaged or destroyed structures that were not documented in the imagery released by Iran. In all, <em>The Post<\/em> found 217 structures and 11 pieces of equipment that were damaged or destroyed at 15 US military sites in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"22.419296663661\">\n<p>Experts who reviewed <em>The Post<\/em>&rsquo;s analysis said the damage at the sites suggested that the US military had underestimated Iran&rsquo;s targeting abilities, not adapted<b> <\/b>sufficiently to modern drone warfare and left some bases under-protected.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Iranian attacks were precise. There are no random craters indicating misses,&rdquo; said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and a retired Marine Corps colonel, who reviewed the Iranian images at <em>The Post<\/em>&rsquo;s request. <em>The Post<\/em> previously revealed how Russia provided Iran with intelligence to target US forces.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\" \" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2f13f634e7fc223e50fb7046240579d3225fa884 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span> <\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 dTHaWw\">Photo: <span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\"> <\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nine fuel bladders at Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait were damaged. Iran state-affiliated media released images (top) with annotations, and The Washington Post used imagery from Planet (bottom) to confirm the damage.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/1328eb02e9d479bc13a8866aef180fd1a051c4f7 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Nine fuel bladders at Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait were damaged. Iran state-affiliated media released images (top) with annotations, and The Washington Post used imagery from Planet (bottom) to confirm the damage.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\"> <\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some of the damage may have occurred after US troops already left the bases, making protection of the structures less vital. Cancian and other experts said they did not believe the attacks had significantly limited the US military&rsquo;s ability to conduct its bombing campaign in Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"27.946462715105\">\n<p>US Central Command, which has responsibility for the Middle East, declined to address a detailed summary of findings from <em>The Post<\/em>. A military spokesperson disputed the characterisation of base damage by experts as extensive or evidence of failures, saying assessments of destruction were complex and could be misleading in some cases, but declined to provide specifics. Military leaders would be able to provide a fuller context for the Iranian attacks once the conflict ended, the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<h3>The damage<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Left to right from top: Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Isa Air Base, Riffa Air Base, Erbil International Airport, Harir Air Base, Ali al-Salem Air Base, Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Shuaiba Port, al-Udeid Air Base, Prince Sultan Air Base, al-Dhafra Air Base.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/519bc289626b67eebb51a468ae322bf5bc87440e 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Left to right from top: Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Isa Air Base, Riffa Air Base, Erbil International Airport, Harir Air Base, Ali al-Salem Air Base, Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Shuaiba Port, al-Udeid Air Base, Prince Sultan Air Base, al-Dhafra Air Base.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Iran state-affiliated media<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the first weeks of the war, several news outlets published reviews of damage, including <em>The New York Times<\/em>, which found strikes at 14 US military sites or air-defence installations. In late April, NBC News reported that an Iranian jet bombed a US base in Kuwait &ndash; the first time in years that an enemy fighter plane had hit a US base &ndash; and cited research it said showed 100 targets had been struck by Iran across 11 bases. CNN reported last week that 16 US installations had been damaged.<\/p>\n<p>But the review by <em>The Post<\/em> &ndash; based on images dating from the war&rsquo;s start through April 14 &ndash; reveals that scores of additional targets were struck at the sites, which are predominantly used by the US military but shared with the host nations&rsquo; military forces and allies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"34.101857399641\">\n<p>The images show that airstrikes damaged or destroyed what appear to be numerous barracks, hangars or warehouses at more than half the US bases that <em>The Post<\/em> reviewed.<\/p>\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A picture of the Hasna released by CENTCOM.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_1.4361,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_103,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,e_sharpen:60,f_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_1.4361%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_103%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Ce_sharpen:60%2Cf_auto\/6730440ea390a9dc3fdeaba85aafacc4111d1ce99b1c95f795300779d2782043 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&ldquo;The Iranians have deliberately targeted accommodation buildings across multiple sites with the intent to inflict mass casualties,&rdquo; said William Goodhind, an investigator with the open-access research project Contested Ground, who reviewed the imagery. &ldquo;It is not just equipment, fuel storage and air base infrastructure under fire, but also soft targets, such as gyms, food halls and accommodation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>The Post<\/em> also found that the attacks hit a satellite communications site at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Patriot missile defence equipment at Riffa and Isa air bases in Bahrain and Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, a satellite dish at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain &ndash; which serves as the headquarters of the US 5th Fleet &ndash; a<b> <\/b>power plant at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, and five fuel storage bladder sites across three bases.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian imagery also documented previously reported damage or destruction of radomes (weatherproof enclosures that protect radar antennas) at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and at the 5th Fleet headquarters; Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile defence radars and equipment at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and two sites in the United Arab Emirates; a second satellite communications site at al-Udeid Air Base, and an E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft and a refuelling tanker at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"29.369527145359\">\n<p>More than half of the damage reviewed by <em>The Post<\/em> occurred at the 5th Fleet headquarters, and the three bases in Kuwait &ndash; Ali al-Salem Air Base, Camp Arifjan and Camp Buehring. Camp Arifjan is the US Army&rsquo;s regional headquarters.<\/p>\n<p>Some Persian Gulf nations have refused to allow the US military to conduct offensive operations out of their bases. A US official said bases in Bahrain and Kuwait were two of the hardest hit, possibly because they permitted attacks from their territory, including the use of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that can fire missiles at ranges exceeding 500 kilometres.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Damage to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait visible on March 4.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/938ff14d53e14d69f41f328abde49d6eae8be0e7 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Damage to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait visible on March 4.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Planet<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>The Post<\/em>&rsquo;s review represents only a partial count of the damage based on available satellite imagery.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the damage could have been the result of US choices or deception, Cancian said. To help preserve valuable interceptors, US forces could choose to allow an incoming missile to strike if it seemed likely to hit an unimportant target, he said, and it was also possible commanders sought to deceive Iranian forces by making emptied base locations appear occupied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"22\">\n<h3>A changed battlefield<\/h3>\n<p>Experts said the vulnerability of the military sites to Iran&rsquo;s attacks was probably the consequence of numerous factors.<\/p>\n<p>Chief among them, experts said, was that Iranian forces had been more resilient than the Trump administration might have anticipated. Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Centre, a think tank, said plans to destroy Iran&rsquo;s missile and drone forces fast enough to prevent them from inflicting serious damage underestimated &ldquo;the depth of Iran&rsquo;s pre-positioned targeting intelligence on fixed US infrastructure&rdquo;.<\/p>\n<p>Grieco said the strategy also failed to account for the degree to which US and Israeli air defences had been used up during the 12-day conflict in June between Iran, Israel and the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"29.108269394714\">\n<p>According to an estimate from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the military used at least 190 THAAD interceptors and 1060 Patriot interceptors between February 28 and April 8, representing 53 per cent and 43 per cent of their pre-war inventories, respectively.<\/p>\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"President Donald Trump has put Project Freedom on hold, hinting there&rsquo;s a chance of a deal between the US and Iran.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.3580121703853955,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_0,%24y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.3580121703853955%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/23911f5fbc03296ce2530ffde80d6ccd15cdd529 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for airpower and technology at the Royal United Services Institute based in London, said US and allied air defences had done an impressive job intercepting attacks, but &ldquo;at an enormous cost in terms of surface-to-air missile interceptors and air-to-air missiles&rdquo;.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, experts said the US military had not adequately adapted to the use of one-way attack drones, something they said planners should have learned from observing the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While [drones] have small payloads &ndash; some of these did not do that much damage &ndash; they are more difficult to intercept and much more accurate, making them a much bigger threat to US forces,&rdquo; said Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at the Centre for Naval Analyses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"24.307774227902\">\n<p>They also pointed to structural challenges, including a shortfall of fortified shelters that could protect troops and equipment at key positions and likely targets.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the tactical operation centre in Kuwait, where six US service members were killed by an Iranian drone attack in early March, offered little overhead protection or concealment, one of several issues being examined by Democratic lawmakers probing the fatalities.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 hgrQwa\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_648\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1296\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_636\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1272\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, in 2021. The rooftop of the building that was struck in an Iranian drone attack in March appears to be made of thin metal.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86,f_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_584\/t_resize_width\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$width_1168\/t_resize_width\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/3e92f50e59a6ee7a57a42d73c9b7343930b2dc6e 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bNAuyX\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"><\/path><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/p><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, in 2021. The rooftop of the building that was struck in an Iranian drone attack in March appears to be made of thin metal.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">US Army photos by Staff Sgt. David Simon<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In one case, it appeared that the<b> <\/b>E-3 Sentry command-and-control aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was destroyed after being repeatedly parked in the same location on an unprotected taxiway, satellite imagery shows.<\/p>\n<p>US Central Command declined to address questions on experts&rsquo; analysis of the damage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"23.018998272884\">\n<p>The strikes on US bases in the region had left military planners considering new trade-offs, said Maximilian Bremer, a non-resident fellow at the Stimson Centre and a retired Air Force officer: pull troops back to safer locations and limit their ability to fight or maintain the bases as they were and accept the potential of future casualties.<\/p>\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\">\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f 2x\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A federal judge has released a suicide note purportedly written by&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein&nbsp;that was sealed for years as part of the criminal case of his cellmate.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/%24zoom_0.7175,%24multiply_0.5127,%24ratio_1.777778,%24width_1059,%24x_0,%24y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_86,f_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.7175%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/64b58ec9062ed2a168157e08f40a50cf7bf5184f 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>A US official said damage at the Naval Support Activity was &ldquo;extensive&rdquo; and that the headquarters there relocated to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida &ndash; the home of US Central Command. It was unlikely that troops, contractors or civilian employees would return to the base &ldquo;anytime soon&rdquo;, the official said.<\/p>\n<p>Two other officials said US forces might never return to regional bases in large numbers, though no final decision had been made.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have moved from an age of stealth to one where the entire battlespace is translucent and increasingly transparent,&rdquo; said Bremer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 yKpxh adWrapper noPrint sc-6f94ac39-3 fDyKLW\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\" readability=\"39.766371681416\">\n<p>&ldquo;It feels like we should be on offence, but we are definitely playing defence around these bases.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Methodology<\/strong>: To report this story, Washington Post reporters geolocated 128 satellite images published by Iranian state-affiliated news media purporting to show damage caused by Iranian strikes to confirm that they depicted the locations claimed in the captions. They then verified the damage by comparing the imagery with medium-resolution imagery from the Sentinel-2 satellite, part of the EU satellite system Copernicus, examining various spectral bands to see damage as clearly as possible, and to high-resolution optical imagery from Planet. In response to a request from the US government, Planet has instituted a policy of withholding imagery captured after March 8 from its online platform, meaning high-resolution imagery was generally not available for comparisons after that date.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In cases where we lacked high-resolution imagery, we tallied only a single structure hit, even if the Iranian imagery appeared to show multiple structures hit. The analysis excluded purported Iranian strikes on non-military targets, such as oil refineries, and on military sites that are not operated by US forces, such as radar installations owned and operated by US allies.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies, examined the images gathered by The Post and verified our analysis, as did Goodhind of Contested Ground, which conducts satellite imagery analysis on war and armed conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Washington Post<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Get a note directly from our foreign <\/i><\/b><b><i>correspondents <\/i><\/b><b><i>on what&rsquo;s making headlines around the world. <\/i><\/b><b><i>Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter<\/i><\/b><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\" readability=\"6.3137254901961\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\" readability=\"8.0816326530612\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your saved list to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"sc-df8e6ee0-1 iJvgCK\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 blRVQF adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-2 gcpFZE\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"sc-54c4a04e-0 blRVQF adWrapper noPrint sc-df8e6ee0-3 fIPZKC\" data-testid=\"ad\"><small class=\"sc-54c4a04e-2 dhgkTF\">Advertisement<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><sub>Iran hit the US a lot harder than we thought. Here are the images that prove it<\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertisement Evan Hill, Jarrett Ley, Alex Horton, Tara Copp and Dan Lamothe May 7, 2026 &mdash; 11:59am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA Washington\/Virginia: Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at US military&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/iran-hit-the-us-a-lot-harder-than-we-thought-here-are-the-images-that-prove-it\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Iran hit the US a lot harder than we thought. Here are the images that prove it&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20087"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20087\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobuzo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}