Iranian Attacks Caused Billions in Damage to US Intelligence Sites, Reports Say
Recent Iranian attacks on US intelligence infrastructure in the Middle East have resulted in billions of dollars in damage, according to NBC News, which cited sources with knowledge of the matter. The reports, carried by the Jerusalem Post and TASS, describe an unprecedented toll on American surveillance capabilities.
NBC reported, citing four people familiar with the situation, that Iranian missile and drone strikes on US surveillance facilities caused damage more extensive than anything US spy agencies had previously endured. The cost of repairs is expected to reach billions of dollars, the sources said. The damage has forced the US Congress to allocate funding toward repairs, according to two of the sources.
Some of the intelligence-linked sites hit during the conflict include a CIA station in Riyadh, a site in eastern Iraq, and radar and surveillance equipment throughout the region, NBC reported, citing US and Gulf officials. Several of the targeted sites and pieces of equipment are shared with the US military, the sources added. The war, they said, represents an unprecedented threat to the CIA and other US intelligence agencies.
The strikes have raised questions within the US military and intelligence community about America's ability to defend its assets, the report added. In the early days of the war, Iran attacked radar systems, and satellite imagery and photos circulated online showed the destruction of multiple US air defense battery radars. Footage reportedly showed a destroyed AN/TPY-2 radar system in Jordan, a destroyed AN/FPS-12 phased array radar in Qatar, and damaged systems in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
The CIA maintains dozens of bases throughout the Middle East, including so-called "stations" at embassies, NBC reported. The CIA, along with the State Department and the White House, did not respond to the network's request for comment.
Iran has attacked US allies in the Gulf region with thousands of drones and missiles since the war began in late February, primarily targeting US bases and forces. In July, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published a report estimating that between February and July, about 65% of Patriot interceptors had been expended, and that the number of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors in US stockpiles was at least 38% lower than at the start of the war. Patriots and THAADs are systems designed to detect and destroy incoming missiles and are considered among the most effective in the US arsenal.
The reports highlight the significant financial and operational impact of the Iranian campaign, as well as the ongoing concerns about the protection of American assets in the region.