Iranian Attacks Cause Extensive Damage to U.S. Bases in the Middle East

New images obtained by CBS News show significant destruction at U.S. military bases across the Middle East following Iranian missile and drone attacks. The exclusive photos were submitted by active-duty service members under anonymity due to strict military media restrictions.

A service member expressed frustration, stating, “This is major damage to our bases that hasn’t been communicated to the American public. We’re standing there with our eyes closed getting punched in the face.”

One image from Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia highlights a critical hit to a Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft. The plane’s tail is severed, with the fuselage charred. This aircraft, vital for in-flight intelligence gathering, has suffered significant damage. At the same base, other photos reveal buildings and barracks reduced to shells, despite standing beside intact cement structures once thought to be important protection against ground attacks.

Similar scenes were found at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. This location is key for the U.S. Army’s ground troops and vehicles, situated in a remote desert area northwest of Kuwait City.

A report by the Defense Department’s inspector general detailed “equipment losses” of up to $3.7 billion, including nearly 60 aircraft. The report, required by Congress, noted Iranian strikes at U.S. bases in several countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. The Pentagon has not commented on these findings.

The situation remains dire. A service member criticized the current defense posture by remarking, “These are not ‘squirters’ getting through,” referring to comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a deadly attack on the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait that resulted in the death of six U.S. troops. He added, “We’re not defending these bases. We’re just watching them get destroyed.”