Iranian attacks on the US Navy's 5th Fleet base in Bahrain caused more damage than expected, impacting critical infrastructure and personnel safety.
The damage caused by Iranian attacks at the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet base in Bahrain has been found to be more severe than initial assessments indicated. An analysis by The New York Times' visual investigation team, based on satellite imagery, shows that there has been significant destruction to the base's critical infrastructure.
Witness footage published on Sunday showed fires around the base following the Iranian attacks. However, the extent of the damage became clearer with satellite images obtained in daylight. According to the analysis, two large radomes or satellite terminals were completely destroyed, and it was determined that half of a storage complex was also demolished.
It was noted that at least one of the attacks was carried out using an Iranian-made, low-cost Shahed-type kamikaze drone. This drone, which costs approximately $35,000 and is described by some analysts as 'flying trash,' was reported to have challenged defense systems despite its slow speed.
The base in Manama is protected by Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems used by United States Navy forces, similar to other U.S. and allied facilities in the region. It is reported that the cost of each Patriot missile is approximately $4 million, and it often takes two missiles to destroy a single threat.
While stock levels are kept confidential, it has been reported that the current inventory is dwindling and that reinforcement options from other strategic areas, such as the Indo-Pacific Command, are being evaluated.
The Bahrain Defense Forces announced that their air defense systems had neutralized nine unmanned aerial vehicles and 45 missiles. However, some munitions reached their targets. At least three impacts were recorded at the base. It was reported that some residential buildings, including the Crowne Plaza Manama in Manama, were also hit.
The U.S. military stated that it evacuated personnel and their families prior to the planned attacks and did not allow the number of soldiers on the base to exceed 'mission-critical' levels. Remaining personnel were instructed to stay in hotels outside the Juffair neighborhood for security reasons. Docks were cleared, and naval vessels were sent out to sea.
It was reported that no American soldiers were injured in the incident. However, it was noted that six U.S. soldiers had lost their lives in other Iranian attacks in the region. The Washington administration warned that the death toll could rise if the conflicts continue.
The picture revealed by satellite images indicates that tensions in the Persian Gulf have reached a new threshold.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
