Key facts
- Over 50 Iranian military bases, including IRGC headquarters, have been damaged by US-Israeli strikes since February 28.
- Satellite imagery reveals damage to aircraft, warships, and missile facilities across Iran.
- US officials claim to have struck over 13,000 targets in Iran.
- Iran is reportedly using a ceasefire to conduct repairs on missile sites and infrastructure.
- The US restricted satellite coverage of the region, but BBC Verify used alternative sources to assess damage.
More than 50 Iranian military bases, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have been damaged by US-Israeli attacks since the war began on February 28, according to an analysis of satellite images by BBC Verify. Experts identified damage to air force jets, warships, and ballistic missile facilities across the country.
US officials state they have struck over 13,000 targets in Iran since the conflict's start. Recent exchanges of strikes occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday nights following the downing of a US helicopter, and over the weekend Iran and Israel traded attacks. Despite these strikes, some satellite images suggest Tehran has used a fragile ceasefire to conduct repairs to tunnel entrances at key missile sites.
Access to recent satellite imagery of Iran was limited after the Pentagon asked a major provider, Planet, to restrict new images in March, citing concerns about adversarial actors using the images. However, BBC Verify utilized older Planet images and data from alternative international providers to document damage at 51 military sites. This analysis is considered a partial assessment due to the secretive nature of many Iranian facilities.
Images show damage to runways and aircraft at over a dozen locations, which experts believe has given the US complete control over Iranian airspace. For instance, at Mehrabad International Airport, strikes on March 7 destroyed at least 17 aircraft in the military section, and at Shiraz Airbase, attacks between April 2-17 hit at least 13 planes. Iran's fleet of warships also sustained damage, with multiple vessels and buildings hit at Bandar Abbas Naval Base and Konarak naval base.
Experts suggest that while Iran's navy and air force have suffered significant blows, the country retains the capacity to conduct counterstrikes via missiles or drones. Iran's "mosquito fleet" of small, fast vessels is also seen as a continued threat to US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, satellite images indicate repairs are underway at at least four ballistic missile bases.
However, Iran's pre-existing economic struggles may constrain its ability to fully rebuild its military capabilities. Beyond military sites, civilian buildings have also been hit, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reporting over 1,700 civilian deaths. Attacks also targeted internal security forces like the IRGC and the Basij paramilitary, with the IRGC's command centre in Tehran reportedly damaged.
At the war's outset, President Trump suggested a goal was to enable anti-government protesters to overthrow the regime. Analysts believe the attacks were likely aimed at creating conditions for regime overthrow, a goal shared by Israel and to some extent the US, to aid any potential uprising. Throughout the ceasefire, Iran and the US have continued to exchange strikes, with Iran damaging at least 20 US military sites and the US conducting self-defense strikes in southern Iran.