02.04.2026 11:33
Iran's missile and drone attacks have caused significant damage to numerous U.S. military bases in the Middle East, resulting in hundreds of soldiers being injured and billions of dollars in losses. While U.S. President Donald Trump has issued threats at every opportunity, criticisms regarding the Pentagon's unpreparedness for this new war doctrine are now being voiced loudly.
The missile and especially drone attacks from Iran have caused significant damage to the U.S. military presence in the Middle East. While the attacks resulted in billions of dollars in damages, hundreds of soldiers were injured, and criticisms regarding the inadequacy of critical defense systems increased.
MAJORITY OF 13 BASES DAMAGED
According to The Times, based in the UK, a large portion of the 13 U.S. military bases in the region suffered serious damage in the ongoing conflicts with Iran. It was reported that damages exceeded 1.5 billion dollars in the first month of the war, with more than 300 soldiers injured and 13 soldiers losing their lives.
AWACS AIRCRAFT DESTROYED
It was reported that the U.S. E-3 Sentry AWACS early warning aircraft was destroyed by a direct hit at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The loss of these aircraft, each valued at approximately 300 million dollars, severely impacted the U.S. air surveillance capacity in the region.
DRONE ATTACKS CHALLENGED DEFENSE
It was stated that Iran's Shahed-136 type kamikaze drones were able to bypass advanced air defense systems due to their low altitude and high mobility capabilities. Criticisms regarding the Pentagon's lack of preparedness against this new threat drew attention.
RUSSIAN SUPPORT CHANGED THE BALANCE
It was noted that the intelligence support provided by Russia to Iran also affected the course of the war. The coordinates of U.S. bases and critical information were transferred to Iran, and systems with more powerful warheads were activated.
CRITICAL BASES IN THE CROSSHAIRS
While the radar system worth over 1 billion dollars was destroyed at the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was attacked. Serious damage occurred at bases in Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan, with some attacks resulting in soldier casualties.
U.S. DEFENSE IS UNDER PRESSURE
It was noted that even the most advanced air defense systems struggled to stop intense drone attacks, emphasizing that the U.S. had difficulty producing an effective solution against this threat.
U.S. DEFENSE IS UNDER PRESSURE
It was noted that even the most advanced air defense systems struggled to stop intense drone attacks, emphasizing that the U.S. had difficulty producing an effective solution against this threat.
THREATS STRIKE AGAIN
On the other hand, U.S. President Donald Trump stated, "We will complete all military targets in Iran in a short time. In the next 2-3 weeks, we will hit them hard and take them back to the Stone Age." Trump also emphasized that the U.S. does not need the Strait of Hormuz, saying, "If countries in the world are getting oil from Hormuz, they should do it, they should lead. Iran is currently in a decapitated state. They will want to sell oil because that is all they have."