- Oct 17, 2011
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A comprehensive Washington Post analysis of satellite imagery reveals that Iranian airstrikes have inflicted far more extensive damage on U.S. military installations across the Middle East than publicly acknowledged, destroying or damaging at least 228 structures and pieces of equipment at 15 bases since the war began on Feb. 28.
The scale of destruction significantly exceeds previous reports, the Post analysis found. The New York Times previously documented strikes at 14 installations, NBC News reported 100 targets across 11 bases and CNN identified 16 damaged installations, but the Post's satellite imagery analysis found 217 damaged structures and 11 pieces of destroyed equipment — revealing a substantially broader scope of Iranian capability and precision.
“The Iranian attacks were precise – there are no random craters indicating misses,” said retired Marine Corps colonel Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, after reviewing the images. [Thanks, Putin!]
U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait suffered the heaviest damage, likely because these nations permitted offensive operations including HIMARS attacks with ranges exceeding 310 miles. The 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain sustained "extensive" damage, prompting relocation to MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, and officials indicated troops may never return to regional bases in large numbers.
The scale of destruction significantly exceeds previous reports, the Post analysis found. The New York Times previously documented strikes at 14 installations, NBC News reported 100 targets across 11 bases and CNN identified 16 damaged installations, but the Post's satellite imagery analysis found 217 damaged structures and 11 pieces of destroyed equipment — revealing a substantially broader scope of Iranian capability and precision.
“The Iranian attacks were precise – there are no random craters indicating misses,” said retired Marine Corps colonel Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, after reviewing the images. [Thanks, Putin!]
U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait suffered the heaviest damage, likely because these nations permitted offensive operations including HIMARS attacks with ranges exceeding 310 miles. The 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain sustained "extensive" damage, prompting relocation to MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, and officials indicated troops may never return to regional bases in large numbers.
