The United States has become entangled in a prolonged military confrontation with Iran, and the consequences are growing harder to ignore. A report by The Times, authored by Michael Evans and Richard Spencer, points to mounting losses and increasing damage to US military infrastructure across the Middle East.

According to the publication, most of the 13 American bases in the region have come under attack and sustained varying degrees of damage. The Pentagon, meanwhile, is facing continued criticism over its lack of preparedness for drone warfare.

The analysts note that this conflict marks a sharp departure from previous US operations. Instead of fighting irregular groups, Washington is now facing a state with significant military capabilities. Since the outset of joint operations by the United States and Israel, Tehran has been regularly striking American facilities using missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

One of the most high-profile incidents involved the destruction of an E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft at Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia.

Official figures indicate that since February 28, 13 US servicemen have been killed and more than 300 injured. Some of these losses were attributed to so-called friendly fire, including the mistaken downing of a KC-135 Stratotanker over western Iraq.

Particular concern, the report says, centers on Shahed-136 drones deployed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These UAVs are capable of flying at low altitudes, allowing them to evade air defense systems.

A former senior Pentagon official, cited by the publication, argued that the US Department of Defense had failed to draw lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly in countering drones, describing the situation as a systemic failure spanning two administrations.

Iranian strikes have reportedly hit US military sites across multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, and Iraq. In Qatar, a costly radar system was destroyed near the al-Udeid base, while in Bahrain, infrastructure linked to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters was damaged.

Sources also indicate that the United States and Israel have already used up a significant portion of their stockpiles of Tomahawk cruise missiles. US President Donald Trump had previously expressed his intention to end the conflict within weeks, even without a formal peace agreement, though the possibility of a ground operation has not been ruled out.

Retired Air Marshal Martin Sampson emphasized that confronting a foreign state requires not only military force but also a coherent political strategy. He noted that the adversary is capable of operating through both conventional and asymmetric means and may draw on additional forces.

Sampson added that it is too early to speak of a complete depletion of US military capabilities, but warned that recovery after the current conflict could demand substantial effort. Reports suggest that Trump is pressing defense contractors, including Raytheon, to accelerate weapons production, particularly long-range Tomahawk missiles.