Iran, the war and the top secret photos that deny Trump: “USA affected”

Iranian attacks have damaged or destroyed at least 228 facilities or equipment at U.S. military bases in the Middle East since the war began, hitting hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft, radar and air defense systems. This is what emerges from an analysis by the Washington Post based on satellite images, according to which the extent of the damage would be “much greater” than what Washington has so far publicly acknowledged.

The top secret photo

The investigation is based on over 100 high-resolution satellite images released by Iranian sources109 of which were verified by comparing them with data from the European Copernicus system and, where available, with commercial images. Nineteen images were excluded due to lack of confirmation, but no evidence of manipulation emerged. In further verification, reporters also identified 10 damaged structures not documented in Iranian materials. In total, 217 buildings and 11 systems at 15 US military bases in the region would have been affected.

Access to satellite images of the Middle East is currently limited, explains the Washington Post, underlining that the two large commercial operators, Vantor and Planet, have complied with the US government’s request to delay or suspend the release of images of the area during the conflict, making it more difficult to assess the impact of Iranian counterattacks.

The US mistake

According to experts quoted by the US newspaper, the damage suggests that the United States allegedly underestimated Iran’s precision capabilities and the impact of drone warfare, leaving some bases without adequate protection. “The Iranian attacks were precise, there are no random craters to indicate errors,” said Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The targets hit include a satellite communications site at the Al-Ubeid base in QatarPatriot defense systems between Bahrain and Kuwait, a satellite dish at the US naval base in Bahrain – home of the Fifth Fleet – as well as a power plant at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, and five mobile fuel depots spread across three different bases. In Kuwait, the tactical operations center – where six US soldiers died in a drone attack at the beginning of March – was without adequate protection. In Saudi Arabia, satellite images show the probable destruction of an E-3 Sentry radar aircraft at the Prince Sultan base, after being repeatedly parked in the same unprotected area.

The United States Central Command (Centcom) disputed the interpretation of the damage as extensive or indicative of operational flaws, underlining the complexity of the assessments and referring to a more complete reconstruction at the end of the conflict. According to experts, however, the damage – while significant – would not have substantially compromised the operational capacity of the United States to conduct the military campaign against Iran.