U.S. military bases in the Middle East sustained far heavier damage from Iranian retaliatory strikes than publicly acknowledged by the White House, NBC News reports, citing informed sources.

According to those sources, the damage to bases and military equipment runs into the billions of dollars. Aircraft hangars, warehouses, runways, and satellite communication infrastructure were among the facilities seriously affected. In response, the U.S. administration has restricted access for private satellite companies to imagery of the sites, complicating efforts to assess the full extent of the destruction.

U. S. Central Command declined to comment on the reported scale of the damage.

Separate reporting by Middle East Eye suggests that the strikes have left some American bases so badly damaged that they now pose more vulnerabilities than strategic value, with several facilities described as barely suitable for habitation.

There are 19 known U.S. military installations across the Middle East, hosting up to 50,000 personnel.

The strikes followed the launch of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28. Tehran had заранее warned that Pentagon-linked facilities in Persian Gulf countries could become targets.

Earlier, in early April 2026, The Times estimated that damage during the first month of the conflict had reached nearly $1.5 billion. The report also noted that at least 300 American service members were wounded during that period.