TEHRAN, Apr 26: In its war with Israel and the US, Iran has managed to inflict “extensive” damage to US bases and equipment situated in West Asia, since the two launched their joint strikes against the Islamic Republic on February 28, according to a report by NBC News.
Highlighting the extent of the damage, the report stated that the damages from Iran’s retaliatory strikes against US military bases in the region were, despite their advanced and sophisticated equipment, “far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair”, according to several US officials and people familiar with the situation.
Iran reportedly hit multiple targets, striking major military sites in at least seven countries in West Asia. These targets range from storage warehouses, command centres where operations are managed, aircraft hangars, communication equipment, radar systems, and even some aircraft, used for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
In one case, an obsolete F-5 fighter jet of the Islamic Republic was able to bypass the far more advanced US air defence systems and carry out a full-fledged-airstrike. While the damage caused by the attack was likely minimal, its very penetration of Washington’s latest military tech showcased a major feat by Iran, and a major embarrassment for the US.
The Pentagon has so far not detailed the extent of the damage to US military bases publicly, according to the report, CENTCOM has declined to comment on battle damage assessments.
According to the report, some GOP lawmakers have also been less than happy with the trajectory of the war, and the silence surrounding it, expressing their dissatisfaction with senior Pentagon officials for refusing to provide any information regarding the damages caused, or the estimate cost for repairs.
“No one knows anything. And it’s not for lack of asking,” one Congressional aide was quoted as saying. “We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record high budget.”
As per the report, a summary of the damages to and repair costs for the bases struck would only fan the flames of a debate discussing the pros and cons of maintaining US bases in such close proximity to an adversary like Iran.
The Pentagon is said to be reportedly seeking over USD $ 200 billion from the US Congress to fund the Trump administration’s war choice in Iran, with the US having already spent over US$ 11 billion on its military operations in just the week of the war, making it an extremely costly war for Washington.
Even before the war began, Trump had called for the creation of US$ 1.5 trillion defence budget, increasing the already massive defence budget of the US by 50 per cent from the previous year. The US Congress has already approved a US$ 838.5 billion defence budget for 2026. (UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
