Satellite images show destruction of the US-Israel war on Iran

Lead

Nearly 100 days after the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran, satellite imagery is beginning to reveal the scale of destruction across the region, with more than 50 Iranian military bases damaged and oil infrastructure hit, according to analyses by Al Jazeera's Open Source Unit and BBC Verify.

The images, drawn from commercial providers such as Planet Labs, Airbus, Sentinel, and Vantor, capture damage extending from Iran's nuclear and naval facilities to oil terminals and even bases used by US and coalition forces in the Gulf. The extent of the damage has been difficult to assess, as commercial satellite operators placed an indefinite blackout on conflict imagery at Washington's request, a move that Planet Labs justified as preventing adversaries from using the images to target allied personnel.

Coverage Comparison

Two major news organizations have independently analyzed satellite imagery to document the war's impact, each focusing on different aspects of the destruction.

Al Jazeera's Open Source Unit compiled 15 sites across Iran, Lebanon, and the Gulf, highlighting the regional scope of the damage. Their analysis details destruction in Lebanese towns including Naqoura, Bint Jbeil, Rachaf, Kozah, and Beit Lif, as well as damage to oil facilities on Siri Island and Kharg Island, and extensive destruction at Iran's Bandar Abbas Naval Base and Fath Air Base. Importantly, Al Jazeera's images also show damage to US and coalition forces' bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, suggesting that the conflict has not been one-sided.

BBC Verify, meanwhile, focused on the impact on Iran's military infrastructure. Their review found that more than 50 Iranian military bases, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have been damaged. Experts cited by the BBC identified damage to air force jets, warships, and ballistic missile facilities. US officials told the BBC that American forces have hit more than 13,000 targets across Iran since the conflict began on 28 February.

While both outlets agree on the primary cause—US-Israeli attacks—their coverage differs in emphasis. Al Jazeera's reporting includes damage in Lebanon and to Gulf bases, offering a broader regional perspective, while the BBC's analysis concentrates on the military degradation of Iran's forces. Both acknowledge the difficulty of assessing the full picture given the satellite blackout.

Key Claims

• Over 50 Iranian military bases damaged: BBC Verify, using satellite images from Planet and alternative providers, recorded damage at 51 military sites across Iran, including IRGC headquarters.
• More than 13,000 targets hit: US officials told the BBC that US strikes have hit more than 13,000 targets across Iran since the conflict began on 28 February.
• Iran's navy and air force heavily damaged: BBC Verify's review, cited by experts, found damage to air force jets, warships, and missile facilities. President Trump claimed the US had "defeated them [Iran] militarily," asserting that Iran's navy and air force were "totally gone - 100 per cent."
• Fresh waves of strikes: On Tuesday and Wednesday night, US and Iranian forces exchanged fresh strikes following the downing of a US helicopter in the Gulf, according to BBC reporting. Over the weekend, Iran and Israel also traded attacks, with Israel striking southern Beirut.
• Temporary ceasefire in place: BBC reports a temporary ceasefire has held for more than a month, though both sides have continued attacks.
• Satellite imagery shows regional destruction: Al Jazeera's Open Source Unit compiled images showing damage across Iran, Lebanon, and the Gulf, including oil facilities, naval bases, and even US/coalition bases.
• Iran repairing missile sites during ceasefire: BBC Verify's images suggest Iran has been using the fragile ceasefire to conduct repairs to tunnel entrances at some key missile sites.

Perspectives

Al Jazeera's Perspective: The coverage emphasizes the humanitarian and regional toll of the war, including destruction in Lebanese towns and damage to oil infrastructure, as well as strikes on US and coalition bases, illustrating that the conflict has affected the entire region, not just Iran.

BBC's Perspective: The coverage focuses on the military dimension, quantifying the damage to Iran's military capabilities and highlighting Trump's claims of defeat. It also notes Iran's efforts to repair its missile infrastructure, suggesting that despite the damage, Iran retains some capacity to rebuild and continue the conflict.

Both outlets acknowledge the difficulty of verifying the full extent of damage due to satellite blackouts, but their analyses provide a rare glimpse into a war that has largely been fought out of public view.