For some time, I have been trying to evaluate Iranian claims of damage to US bases in the Middle East. Not surprisingly, that information has not been forthcoming from the Department of Defense. It is rare for one side in a war to admit losses. I was unwilling to accept the press releases from the Iranian government, since exaggerating victories is also a staple of war communications.
But Al Mayadeen, a media company based in Lebanon, but one with a distinctive Iranian bias, has published photographs of the damage to US military bases that was inflicted earlier in the war. I am not an expert on fake photographs, so I am posting this with a warning: Look at the photographs with skepticism, but do not immediately dismiss them. I am sure that over time we will be able to view photographs that can be verified with greater confidence.
But the claims of damage to US military bases in the region are circumstantially verified by the DoD’s statements about the movement of troops and weaponry to bases further away from Iran, most to Israel. I will continue to try to find out more on this issue. But as more information becomes available, we should keep in mind questions which need to be asked:
First, despite all of Trump’s assertions about rebuilding the military, it seems that the military was unable to defeat Iran, an enemy less formidable than either Russia or China. The US has “rebuilt” a military that is out of date: the weapons being built are easily defeated by smaller, more maneuverable weapons like drones.
Second, the preferred strategy of the US is to defend against missiles by using interceptors like the Patriot missiles which are significantly more expensive than the weapons they are being used to shoot down. Indeed, Trump’s plan for a “Golden Dome” of interceptors to protect the US homeland is projected to cost $542 billion for the space-based components alone. The cost mismatch favors an opponent who can afford to play a very long game, as the US is finding out as it runs out of interceptors.
Third, the possibility of significant damages raises serious questions about the role the US has taken since 1945 to be a dominant world power. That power was based upon the US ability to transcend time and space in comparison with its enemies’ more limited capabilities to project power. It attained this position by using almost 800 overseas military bases, though admittedly many of these bases are small. But these bases are hosted by 80 countries, and the Iran War has demonstrated that US access to these bases can be circumscribed if the host countries disagree with US policy. Spain refused to allow US bases to be used in the Iranian attack.
Interesting Facts About US Military Bases Around the World 2026
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total overseas US military bases | ~750-800 (broad count) / 128 confirmed (narrow count) |
| Countries hosting US bases | 80+ (broad count) / 49 (confirmed count) |
| Total US troops stationed abroad | ~200,000 |
| Total active-duty US military personnel | ~1.3 million |
| Country with most US bases | Japan — 120 bases |
| Country with most US troops | Japan — approx. 53,700 troops |
| Largest overseas base by land area | Camp Humphreys, South Korea |
| Oldest overseas base | Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (leased since 1903) |
| Estimated annual overseas base cost | $55 billion |
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), December 2025; Congressional Research Service; American University (David Vine); WarCosts.org.
It may be the cases that being a global power is no longer economically or militarily feasible. It may be time to rethink everything about military spending.
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