Military expert Yuri Knutov says Iran’s strike on the Al-Udeid airbase — the largest US military facility in the Middle East — disrupted the flight schedule of the US Air Force. In his assessment, American air defense systems are no longer effectively intercepting Iranian missiles and drones.

He notes that the targeted bases host advanced aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35. Strikes on runways and fuel storage facilities, he argues, have directly interfered with US aviation operations.

Knutov also points to what he describes as successful Iranian attacks on missile defense systems. According to the IRGC, four THAAD systems were put out of action, while Patriot systems also sustained damage.

In addition, Iranian strikes reportedly disrupted satellite communication systems responsible for transmitting data from US satellites. These systems had been used to provide targeting information for air defense assets in the region. As a result, Knutov says, the United States now faces greater difficulty obtaining space-based data for guidance.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported carrying out a strike on the Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, widely regarded as the largest in the region. The IRGC also stated that missile defense facilities in Israel had been hit.