Iranian strikes on military bases used by the US in the Middle East caused about $800 million (£600m) in damage in the first two weeks of the war, a new analysis shows. Much of the damage was caused in initial retaliatory strikes by Iran in the week after the US and Israel launched the war, according to a report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and an analysis by the BBC.
The full extent of the damage caused by Iranian strikes on US assets in the region is not clear. But the $800 million in estimated damages to US military infrastructure - a figure that's higher than has been previously reported - offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on.
The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported, said Mark Cancian, a CSIS senior adviser and co-author of the think tank study. Although that appears to be extensive, the full amount won't be known until more information is available.
In response to a request for comment, the US Department of Defense referred the BBC to US Central Command, which is leading the war. Officials there declined to comment.
Iran's retaliatory strikes targeted US air-defense and satellite-communication systems, among other assets, in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries across the Middle East. A significant portion of damage was caused by a strike on a US radar for a Thaad missile defense system at an air base in Jordan, valued at approximately $485 million.
The strikes not only resulted in substantial damage to military infrastructure but also highlighted a concerning escalation in hostilities, with Iran reportedly sharing intelligence with Russia on American military forces in the region. The conflict continues to have severe implications for regional stability and global economic conditions, contributing to a rising death toll that includes both military personnel and civilians.
The full extent of the damage caused by Iranian strikes on US assets in the region is not clear. But the $800 million in estimated damages to US military infrastructure - a figure that's higher than has been previously reported - offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on.
The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported, said Mark Cancian, a CSIS senior adviser and co-author of the think tank study. Although that appears to be extensive, the full amount won't be known until more information is available.
In response to a request for comment, the US Department of Defense referred the BBC to US Central Command, which is leading the war. Officials there declined to comment.
Iran's retaliatory strikes targeted US air-defense and satellite-communication systems, among other assets, in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries across the Middle East. A significant portion of damage was caused by a strike on a US radar for a Thaad missile defense system at an air base in Jordan, valued at approximately $485 million.
The strikes not only resulted in substantial damage to military infrastructure but also highlighted a concerning escalation in hostilities, with Iran reportedly sharing intelligence with Russia on American military forces in the region. The conflict continues to have severe implications for regional stability and global economic conditions, contributing to a rising death toll that includes both military personnel and civilians.
