Washington, DC: Iran may have inflicted more extensive damage to US military bases and equipment in the Middle East than publicly acknowledged by the Pentagon.
According to an NBC News report, highlighted by The Indian Express, the damage could be worth billions of dollars. Even some Republican lawmakers have expressed their frustration at being denied any specific information on the matter.
Iranian strikes since the start of the US and Israeli operations on February 28 hit multiple facilities in at least seven countries, the report says. Targets included warehouses, command centres, aircraft hangars, satellite communications systems, runways, radar installations and aircraft.
Even an Iranian F-5 aircraft was able to
strike, despite US air defence systems, it has been highlighted. This points to glaring gaps in the so-called protective shields.
While the Pentagon has not fully disclosed the scale of damage, US Central Command declined to comment on battle damage assessments, the report said.
Some Republican lawmakers have privately expressed frustration over the lack of information. “No one knows anything. And it’s not for lack of asking,” a congressional aide was quoted as saying. “We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record high budget.”
Repair costs are expected to run into billions of dollars and could renew debate in Washington over the risks of maintaining US bases close to Iran, the report states.
The lawmakers have apparently expressed their dissatisfaction with senior Pentagon officials privately for refusing to provide information on the extent of the damage or a cost estimate for repairs.
The damage to and cost of repairing the bases could reignite a debate over the merits of maintaining US bases in such close proximity to an adversary like Iran.