US Loses Nearly $2 Billion in Military Equipment as Iran Strikes Bases and Embassies

US military strikes on Iran since Saturday have led to nearly $2 billion in losses, including radar systems, fighter jets, and SATCOM terminals. Iran targeted multiple US bases and diplomatic missions across the Middle East, causing damage, fires, and six US service member deaths.

The United States has suffered nearly $2 billion in losses to its military equipment following a series of attacks against Iran since Saturday, according to data and estimates compiled by Anadolu Agency. The largest single loss stems from a US AN/FPS-132 early warning radar system stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is valued at approximately $1.1 billion. The radar system was struck by an Iranian missile on Saturday, an attack that Qatar officially confirmed, resulting in significant damage to the critical surveillance and early-warning infrastructure. This radar system plays a central role in monitoring missile launches and providing real-time intelligence for the region, making its damage a serious blow to US operational capabilities.
On the following day, Sunday, Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets in what has been classified as a friendly fire incident. Although all six aircrew members survived the incident, the aircraft were completely destroyed. The financial implications of losing the planes are considerable, with replacement costs estimated at $282 million. The loss of these highly advanced fighter jets underscores the vulnerabilities faced by US forces in highly tense and active conflict zones, where misidentifications can lead to costly outcomes.
Iran’s initial retaliatory attack on Saturday also struck the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. The attack destroyed two satellite communications terminals and several large buildings within the compound. Open-source intelligence analysis identified the damaged SATCOM terminals as AN/GSC-52Bs, with deployment and installation costs estimated at approximately $20 million. These terminals are essential for secure and continuous communication between naval units in the region, and their destruction has disrupted routine military communication operations.
In addition, Iran claimed responsibility for destroying the AN/TPY-2 radar component of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) system deployed at Al-Ruwais Industrial City in the United Arab Emirates. Satellite imagery reviewed through open-source intelligence appears to corroborate Iran’s claim, showing visible damage to the radar installation. This radar component alone is valued at approximately $500 million, and its destruction represents a significant degradation of US missile defense capabilities in the region. When combined, the financial impact of these targeted attacks amounts to roughly $1.902 billion in damaged US military assets, highlighting the scale of the losses suffered in just the first days of the conflict.
Since the initial strikes, Iran has reportedly targeted at least seven US military sites across the Middle East. These include the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, Camp Arifjan, Ali Al Salem Air Base, and Camp Buehring in Kuwait, the Erbil Base in Iraq, Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates—which is the largest US Navy port of call in the Middle East—and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The geographical spread of the attacks demonstrates Iran’s ability to strike multiple US facilities across a broad regional area, complicating US defensive operations and logistics.
Images and reports from Kuwait revealed collapsed rooftops at multiple locations within Ali Al Salem Air Base following an Iranian strike, indicating the structural impact of the attacks. Camp Arifjan was another primary target, where six US service members lost their lives. At Camp Buehring, video footage widely circulated online showed a drone flying over the installation before detonating inside the perimeter, emphasizing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in these tactical strikes.
Erbil International Airport in Iraq, which hosts US forces, was reportedly subjected to repeated strikes on Saturday and Sunday. Footage and photographs confirmed by the New York Times showed smoke and flames rising from the installation, and by Sunday morning, satellite imagery revealed that four structures in one section of the base had been damaged or destroyed, with fires continuing to burn into early Monday. The ongoing assault on Erbil underscores the persistent threat to US forces stationed in Iraq and the broader security challenges facing coalition operations in the region.
Meanwhile, satellite imagery captured smoke rising from a large building within a fenced US Navy recreational area at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. Although Jebel Ali is not formally classified as a US military base, it is among the Navy’s most frequently used ports, serving both logistical and personnel needs. The damage at this location further illustrates the breadth of Iran’s targeting strategy, which has encompassed both formal military bases and critical naval facilities used by the United States.
In addition to military sites, Iranian strikes have also targeted US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, came under attack from two drones, with the Saudi Defence Ministry reporting “limited fire and minor material damage” to the compound. The Washington Post reported that the CIA station housed within the embassy grounds was also affected, demonstrating that the attacks extended beyond conventional military targets.
In Kuwait City, the US Embassy experienced both drone and missile strikes. Smoke was observed near the compound, though publicly available reporting has offered limited information regarding the extent of the damage. In response, the embassy has closed “until further notice,” with non-essential staff and families evacuated to ensure safety. Similarly, the US Consulate General in Dubai, UAE, was struck by a suspected Iranian drone that hit a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building. A fire broke out but was quickly contained by local authorities. While the consulate grounds sustained some impact, no major structural damage was reported, indicating that the response efforts were effective in minimizing physical destruction.
These coordinated strikes have not only caused substantial financial losses to US military assets, but they have also disrupted operational readiness, challenged regional security, and tested the resilience of US personnel stationed across multiple Middle Eastern countries. The scale and precision of the attacks reflect a significant escalation in hostilities and demonstrate the complexities involved in protecting both military and diplomatic installations in high-risk environments.