Iran has upgraded its missile and drone capabilities to the point that attacks on US bases across the Middle East have caused—or could ultimately cause—up to $15 billion in damage since the war began, according to a new report.
An analysis of the July 17 strike that killed three American service members at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan shows how significantly Iran’s tactics have advanced, with the attack proving exceptionally destructive and costly, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Unlike earlier assaults, the nighttime attack in July directly struck 19 buildings where American troops were sleeping, according to Journal sources and satellite imagery analysis.
The findings suggest that Iran’s targeting has become increasingly precise. Tehran was able to hit smaller structures than those it could reach at the beginning of the war.
The sophistication of the assault indicated that Iran’s capabilities were improving rather than weakening, contrary to claims by the Trump administration.
Iran launched its most intense attacks during the opening weeks of the war, damaging at least 119 buildings across 13 installations within the conflict’s first two weeks.
Although joint US-Israeli airstrikes destroyed a significant portion of Tehran’s missile network, Iranian attacks continued.
The Journal estimates that Iran damaged 155 additional structures, while 13 more military installations sustained damage by the end of July.
More than 20 US service members have been killed in the war with Iran, and more than 400 others have been wounded, according to the Defense Department.
The Pentagon estimates that damage to US bases in the region has reached at least $5 billion, while the final cost could climb as high as $15 billion, the WSJ reported.
Those losses are not reflected in the Defense Department’s latest war-cost estimate, which stood at $47.1 billion as of Oct. 16.
Despite repeated claims from the Defense Department that Iran’s ability to launch attacks had been eliminated, reports indicate that the US military has moved personnel away from bases across the region in recent months.
The withdrawals come as President Trump considers renewed airstrikes against Iran following Tuesday’s midterm elections. Iran has vowed to retaliate with attacks throughout the region.
Pentagon officials have cautioned that the response could rank among the deadliest attacks yet, with Iran possibly having preserved some of its most advanced missiles for the next phase of fighting, the WSJ reported.
