Missile shortages, damage to US facilities: Pentagon watchdog issues first review of Iran war

The Pentagon's watchdog released a report on Monday detailing the impact of the Iran war on US equipment and facility losses, marking the Defense Department's first formal accounting of such damages. Over the first six months, Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at US bases across multiple countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan.

The report also highlighted the depletion of crucial US munition stockpiles, leading to significant changes in how US troops have traditionally operated in the region. CENTCOM adjusted personnel, assets, and storage facilities to counter the Iranian attacks, resulting in the withdrawal of Army medical evacuation helicopters from Iraq and Kuwait, which meant most medical evacuations were now carried out by ground to local treatment facilities.

The destruction of the Navy's regional hub in Bahrain, described as "blown the hell out of" by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, posed substantial challenges in establishing adequate naval bases and support ports, leading to longer resupply cycles and an interruption to the military's regional mail system. These factors compounded the difficulties US sailors faced during extended deployments to the Persian Gulf.

Additionally, the report covered US diplomatic activities, noting that Iran's attacks caused roughly $184 million in damage to US diplomatic facilities in the Middle East.