A newly released Pentagon inspector general report has revealed the extensive toll of Iranian missile attacks on U.S. military infrastructure across the Middle East, documenting the damage or destruction of hundreds of buildings and structures at bases in eight nations.
The assessment covers installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. Equipment losses alone total approximately $3.7 billion, while cumulative U.S. war expenditures reached $33.4 billion through late June, according to the findings.
The report highlights significant aviation losses in the conflict’s early months, noting that dozens of U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Among them, five refueling aircraft were reportedly damaged or destroyed on the ground in Saudi Arabia by Iranian munitions.
A separate Congressional Budget Office analysis underscores the long-term capability gaps created by these losses. Because the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is no longer in production, replacements would require procurement of the newer E-7 platform at an estimated $500 million per unit. The CBO places the total value of major equipment lost in combat—including aircraft, drones, and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery—at roughly $1.9 billion.
The CBO cautioned that its review carries significant uncertainty, as the Defense Department did not respond to information requests, forcing reliance on government databases and public reporting. Additionally, the scope of planned military repairs and reconstruction remains undefined, according to the watchdog’s assessment.
