CNN: 16 US bases in the Middle East damaged by Iran attacks

At least 16 US bases in the Middle East have been damaged by Iranian attacks since the war began on February 28, CNN reported.

This came according to an investigation conducted by CNN, which relied on satellite imagery, damage assessment reports, and U.S. and Gulf sources.

The report, published by the channel on Sunday, indicated that the bases were subjected to varying degrees of damage, including radar systems of the US "THAAD" missile batteries in Jordan, and radar systems in some facilities in the UAE.

Among the damages was the destruction of a US Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft during an Iranian attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia, according to a CNN report.

Some of the affected sites suffered severe operational damage, and some facilities became unusable,  the report said, noting that the Iranian attacks have largely focused on sophisticated radar systems deployed across the Middle East, communications infrastructure, missile defense systems, and aircraft.

Pentagon: $25 billion cost of war with Iran

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, that the direct cost of ongoing military operations against Iran reached $25 billion, in the first official estimate issued since the outbreak of the war about two months ago, and the announcement came during a public hearing before the Armed Services Committee in the US House of Representatives.

Jules Hirst, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Finance, presented the figure as a preliminary estimate of the costs of Operation Epic Fury, in the presence of Defense Secretary Pete Higseth.

Hurst said the bulk of the $25 billion was spent on munitions, including missiles and bombs used in air strikes, while the rest was spent on field operations, maintenance and replacement of some equipment damaged during the fighting.

During the hearing, Pentagon officials noted that the financial assessment process is still ongoing, and that the department is preparing a supplemental budget request to be presented to Congress once the review of the full costs of the war is completed.

US media: The real cost exceeds $50 billion

CNN and CBS reports that the actual cost exceeds $50 billion, based on the concept of "overarching cost," which adds to official figures items that are not usually included in the budget for day-to-day operations, particularly the cost of replacing military assets: such as the MQ-9 drones  and the downed F-15E fighters  , which are expensive equipment that does not count toward operational spending.

U.S. media have criticized  the failure to account for the military reconstruction costs  of repairing significant damage to U.S. bases in the region, including radars and air defense systems that were hit by direct hits, as well as long-term health care for more than 500 wounded soldiers, including cases of brain injuries requiring extended care and high medical costs.

Opposition figures in Congress accuse the Trump administration of trying to "squeeze the numbers" to ease public pressure, especially after daily spending exceeded $900 million at the peak of operations, while the White House asserts that these expenditures are a "necessary investment" to ensure the security of the region and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities, according to official statements.

Iran Promotes 'Heavy U.S. Losses' Narrative

In its official statements, especially those issued by the Revolutionary Guards, Iran adopts a narrative that US forces have suffered losses "far exceeding" what Washington acknowledges, considering that the results of the recent confrontations represent a "clear defeat" of the US deterrence system in the Middle East.

Through its media and military platforms, Tehran continues to make a series of allegations that it says are based on "field data" and "operational evidence."

 Iranian state media have reported "hundreds of deaths and injuries" among U.S. forces during the reciprocal strikes since the start of the escalation, and Tehran accuses Washington of "keeping secret" of the real toll in order to contain domestic reactions in the United States, according to the Iranian narrative.

The  IRGC officially announced the destruction of two THAAD systems in the area, confirming that AN/TPY-2 radars  were targeted at the Ruwais base in the UAE and the Mowaffaq al-Salti base in Jordan.

The Iranian narrative includes a striking announcement by the spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces, who said that the US aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" was decommissioned after being targeted, and the Revolutionary Guards announced that it had carried out strikes on 500 US and Israeli military targets and 60 strategic targets since the beginning of the war, using more than 700 drones and hundreds of missiles.