Pentagon watchdog details Iran war damage to U.S. bases and aircraft

September 15, 2026 at 04:18 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A Pentagon inspector general report released Monday details Iranian strikes that damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings at U.S. bases across eight Middle East countries. The report also documents dozens of damaged or destroyed American aircraft and drones, and $184 million in damage to diplomatic facilities. The war has cost $37.5 billion so far, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in late July.

Key Facts

Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan.
Dozens of American aircraft and drones were destroyed or damaged.
Damage to U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE is estimated at $184 million.
The State Department reported overall conflict costs of $113 million, including nearly $80 million for contingency response.
About 9,000 U.S. citizens were evacuated from the Middle East and Europe, with evacuation costs exceeding $11 million as of late June.

Damage Assessment

The Pentagon inspector general's report covers April 1 to June 30 and provides the fullest official accounting of the conflict's costs. Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures at U.S. bases in eight Middle East countries. Dozens of American aircraft and drones were also destroyed or damaged. The report notes that the war has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply. Experts have said it will take about three years for military contractors to replenish advanced missiles and defensive missile interceptors to prewar levels.

Financial Costs

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in late July that the war had cost $37.5 billion so far. U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE sustained an estimated $184 million in physical damage. The State Department reported in early June that its overall costs from the conflict came to $113 million. Nearly $80 million of that amount was used to respond to contingency plans, including evacuation expenses.

Evacuation Operation

The Trump administration evacuated about 9,000 U.S. citizens from countries in the Middle East and Europe after the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on Feb. 28. The evacuation operation cost more than $11 million as of late June, using private and commercial flights as well as land and water travel. The State Department determined that consular officers would not be able to fully document travel itineraries required to seek reimbursement from evacuees. The majority of evacuations were made from Israel, with Iraq and Jordan following shortly behind. Only 1,200 Americans were evacuated from the UAE, but those trips to Istanbul, Athens, and Washington cost the most at more than $4 million.