Satellite Images: More Than 50 Iranian Military Bases Damaged in US Strikes
Satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify show that over 50 Iranian military bases, including the IRGC headquarters, have been damaged by US-Israeli attacks since the war began on February 28. Despite heavy damage, Iran is using a fragile ceasefire to repair some missile sites and still retains significant counterattack capability.
More than 50 Iranian military bases, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have been damaged by US-Israeli strikes since the conflict began, according to satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify. The images show widespread destruction across air bases, naval facilities, and IRGC compounds.
US officials say they have struck more than 13,000 targets since February 28. New waves of attacks occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday after a US helicopter was downed in the Gulf. Over the weekend, Iran and Israel also exchanged strikes, with Israel hitting southern Beirut and military sites in Iran.
President Donald Trump claimed late last month that the US has "defeated them [Iran] militarily," stating that their navy and air force are "totally gone." However, satellite images indicate that Tehran is using the fragile ceasefire to repair tunnel entrances at key missile sites, such as Tabriz, where debris has been cleared and heavy machinery is visible.
Experts note that Iran's defensive capability relies less on conventional forces and more on its ability to launch counterstrikes with missiles or drones. Raphael Cohen of the RAND Corporation said Iran's "mosquito fleet" of small, fast vessels still poses a threat to US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
BBC Verify documented damage at 51 military sites, including runways and aircraft at over a dozen locations. At Mehrabad International Airport, at least 17 aircraft were destroyed on March 7, while at Shiraz Airbase, between 2-17 April, at least 13 planes were hit. Naval bases in Bandar Abbas and Konarak also sustained heavy damage, with multiple vessels and buildings destroyed.
Civilian casualties have been reported: over 1,700 killed, according to HRANA, though US Admiral Brad Cooper disputed this figure. Attacks also targeted internal security forces, including the Basij paramilitary command center in Tehran, which was leveled.
Analysts suggest that the strikes aim to create conditions for regime change, a goal hinted at by Trump and pursued by Israel. However, Iran's pre-war economic troubles may hinder rebuilding. Despite damage, experts say Iran retains the capacity to inflict harm on US and allied forces.
