For nearly a month, continuous missile and drone attacks by Iran have severely disrupted U.S. military bases across the Middle East; the situation has become so critical that the United States has been forced to withdraw troops from several bases, with multiple facilities now partially or completely inoperable. Under current conditions, many U.S. personnel are operating from nearby hotels or civilian buildings, putting not only their own safety at risk but also exposing civilians to significant danger. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a fresh warning urging civilians to stay away from areas surrounding U.S. bases and personnel. According to an analytical report by the British media outlet The Telegraph, based on geolocated data from open-source analyst Fabian Hinz, Iran has so far carried out attacks on at least 104 U.S. and allied bases. Data from The New York Times indicates that many of the 13 U.S. bases located in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have become effectively unusable due to sustained strikes. The most heavily targeted facility is Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, which has reportedly been hit 23 times; Camp Arifjan has faced 17 attacks, while Camp Buehring has been struck 6 times. Satellite imagery reveals extensive damage to communications infrastructure, satellite equipment, fuel storage, and warehouses. Country-wise figures show that over the past month, U.S. bases in Kuwait were attacked around 50 times, followed by 17 in the UAE, 16 in Bahrain, 7 in Iraq, 6 each in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and 2 in Jordan. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that at least $800 million in damage occurred in the early phase of the conflict alone; in Jordan, strikes damaged THAAD missile defense systems, radar installations, and key facilities, while in Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base a hangar was completely destroyed, Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base lost multiple antennas and satellite systems, and in the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base an explosion created a large crater in a building used to house personnel. Iran claims it used its advanced Khorramshahr-4 missile in these attacks. At the same time, the IRGC has been deliberately targeting radar and air defense systems to weaken U.S. defensive capabilities; four THAAD sites have reportedly been hit, and damage to early warning radar systems in Qatar has made it increasingly difficult to intercept incoming missiles. A study by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) finds that although the number of attacks has slightly decreased, more missiles are now penetrating U.S. and Israeli defenses due to shortages of interceptor missiles. The same report notes that THAAD stockpiles have dropped by about 40% within a month and could be depleted within 23 days if the current pace continues; naval Aegis (SM) missile stocks have fallen by 17% and Patriot systems by 16%, though air-to-air defense missiles remain largely intact. Among offensive weapons, the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) has been used most extensively, with around 46% of its stockpile already depleted and only about 18 days of supply remaining; Tomahawk missile reserves have declined by approximately 17%, leaving about two and a half months of supply. Additionally, anti-ship LRASM missiles have seen a 13% reduction, and low-cost OWA drones (Lucas/Scorpion) have dropped by 10%, with current inventories expected to last only three to four months. Overall, The Telegraph concludes that U.S. military bases in the Middle East are under intense pressure, with many facilities partially or fully disabled and defensive capabilities significantly weakened; however, through retaliatory strikes, the United States has also inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military capacity. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the United States has struck more than 10,000 targets inside Iran, claiming that over two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone, naval installations, and shipbuilding infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.
How effective are US bases in the Middle East after damage from Iranian attacks?
