![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
The widening confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel is increasingly defined by the weapons being deployed, and by the geography of the bases now under fire.
After joint US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and senior officials, Tehran launched what the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described as “Operation Truthful Promise 4”, targeting Israeli sites and US military facilities across the Gulf and wider West Asia. Washington and Tel Aviv have responded with sustained air and naval operations under what the Pentagon has termed Operation Epic Fury.
Below is a closer look at the weapons in play and the installations that have become focal points of the fighting.
Iran’s arsenal
Iran’s retaliation has relied heavily on ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and one-way attack drones designed to stretch air defence systems across multiple countries simultaneously.
Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles
According to reports, Tehran has launched volleys of: Fateh-110 variants; Qiam-1; Shahab-3; Sejjil; and Kheibar Shekan.
With ranges stretching up to roughly 2,000km, these systems place Israel and US-linked facilities across Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE within reach. Solid-fuel missiles such as Sejjil allow faster launch times, complicating pre-emptive targeting.
Iran has also claimed limited use of the Fattah, presenting it as a high-speed, manoeuvrable system, though independent verification of its battlefield performance remains limited.
Cruise missiles and drones
Tehran has paired ballistic salvos with low-flying cruise missiles such as the Soumar and waves of Shahed 136 drones.
US officials say the tactic is designed to saturate radar networks: ballistic missiles arrive fast and high, while drones and cruise missiles approach low and slower, forcing defenders to split tracking and interceptor resources.
The bases under attack
According to statements by the IRGC and regional authorities, at least seven US-linked facilities across six countries have been targeted.
Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
The largest US military installation in the region and a forward headquarters for US Central Command. Qatari officials said air defence systems intercepted most incoming missiles, but at least two projectiles struck within the wider perimeter area. Satellite imagery reviewed by regional media appeared to show scorch marks near logistical facilities.
Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
Home to thousands of US personnel and advanced aircraft. Emirati sources reported explosions and visible smoke near the installation following drone activity. US officials have not detailed damage assessments.
Ali Al-Salem Air Base, Kuwait
Witnesses described air-raid sirens and multiple explosions. Kuwait’s defence ministry said air defences intercepted several incoming threats. The base also became the site of a separate incident in which three US fighter jets were lost in what American officials called a friendly-fire event during heightened alert conditions.
Naval Support Activity Bahrain
A key naval command hub for US Fifth Fleet operations. Videos circulating online showed smoke rising near port facilities after a reported missile impact. Bahraini authorities said damage was limited.
Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base, Jordan
Jordanian officials confirmed intercepting at least two missiles headed toward the base. Debris reportedly fell in uninhabited areas.
Ain al-Asad Airbase, Iraq
Long a target during previous US-Iran tensions, the base was again struck by missile fire, according to Iraqi security sources, who reported smoke plumes near its western perimeter.
Erbil Air Base, Iraq
Regional Kurdish authorities said the installation was placed on maximum alert after multiple launches were detected.
In addition to military facilities, US diplomatic compounds in Riyadh and Kuwait City were targeted by drones, according to US embassy statements.
US and Israeli response
Washington has deployed one of its largest force groupings in the region in years.
Long-range strike assets
The US has used B-2 Spirit bombers flying from the continental United States to strike Iranian missile sites with precision munitions. Follow-on missions have involved the B-1B Lancer.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iranian air defence nodes.
Carrier-based aircraft operating from USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford have flown strike and combat air patrol missions.
Tactical air and electronic warfare
Aircraft confirmed in theatre include: F-35 Lightning II; F-22 Raptor; F-15E Strike Eagle; F/A-18E Super Hornet; and EA-18G Growler.
Unmanned platforms such as the MQ-9 Reaper have supported surveillance and strike operations.
Missile defence shield
To counter Iranian barrages, US and allied forces have relied heavily on: Patriot missile system; THAAD; and SM-3.
Israeli officials say their own multi-layered system, including Iron Dome and higher-tier interceptors, has shot down most incoming threats, though some missiles have penetrated defences, causing civilian casualties.
Losses and battlefield toll
US officials have confirmed:
- Three US fighter jets downed in Kuwait, attributed to a friendly-fire air defence incident during missile alerts.
- Six US service members killed, with additional injuries reported at Gulf bases.
Israeli authorities report civilian fatalities after several missiles evaded interception. Iranian state media, for its part, says hundreds have been killed in US-Israeli strikes inside Iran, including senior commanders and infrastructure personnel.
Precise Iranian military losses remain difficult to verify independently, though US Central Command has stated that multiple missile launchers, storage depots and radar systems have been destroyed.
A war testing stockpiles
Iran’s ability to produce relatively inexpensive drones and missiles in large numbers contrasts with the high cost and slower production cycles of advanced interceptors such as THAAD and SM-3.
If missile exchanges continue at the current tempo, questions about interceptor availability, aircraft survivability and the resilience of forward bases, from Al Udeid to Al Dhafra, could shape the next phase of the war as much as any single strike.
For now, the battlefield stretches from Israeli skies to Iraqi deserts and Gulf coastlines, with US bases across the region no longer rear-area hubs, but front-line targets.
Huma Siddiqui
