Iran targeted air defenses then hit aircraft, buildings

Iran’s strikes on more than two dozen US bases in the Middle East focused on early-warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings, causing billions of dollars in equipment damage, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The AP independently verified damage to American targets using satellite imagery from multiple providers and spoke to four regional officials who were briefed or have firsthand knowledge of what was hit. The AP found that, through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with US equipment.
The AP found that Iran initially focused its attacks on aircraft hangars and systems that detect incoming strikes, clearing the way for further strikes on warehouses, troop housing and more.
The damage has significantly reshaped the American foothold in the Middle East, with two regional officials saying the US has moved many of its assets out of the Persian Gulf. That includes aircraft, air defense systems, communications systems and other equipment crucial to base operations, one of those officials said.
The impact of the damage raises questions about American defenses in the region as President Donald Trump considers new strikes after Tuesday’s midterm elections and Tehran has vowed major retaliation. A return to hostilities threatens additional costly damage to bases, which would heighten uncertainty about whether the United States will choose to rebuild its bases and equipment in the region when the war ends.
The AP’s analysis offers new insight into Iran’s strategy for its retaliation and what precisely has been damaged on US bases during the eight-month war, going beyond the details that have been released in independent reviews, including from the Pentagon’s inspector general. It found that from 1 to June 30 April, Iranian strikes had damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures on US bases.
Meanwhile, the Iranian leader threatened an immediate response to a potential attack as fears of renewed war mount. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged a stern military reaction to potential US and Israel strikes.
Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged a stern military reaction to potential US and Israeli strikes, state media said on Saturday.
The official IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as saying that “any kind and level of threat” should face an immediate response. Khamenei made the comments during a meeting with the military. He said the forces should have combat readiness to confront their enemies and called for the updating of the target bank for the US and Israel.
The remarks came as concerns rise about a possible return to a full-out war. Mojtaba Khamenei became supreme leader after the US and Israel launched the war in February killing his father and other high-ranking officials.