Iranian F-5 Jet Breached US Air Defences, the Massive War Damage Trump's Team Covered Up

Questions are growing over how much damage Iran actually inflicted on American military installations in the Middle East after a new report suggested the public account may have left out some of the most serious blows. At the centre of the claims is an allegation that an Iranian F-5 fighter jet bombed Camp Buehring in Kuwait despite the base having air defences, a breach that would mark a major lapse at a heavily protected site.

The NBC News report draws on findings from the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, as well as interviews with three US officials, two congressional aides and another person familiar with the damage. It also raises fresh scrutiny over whether the Trump administration has disclosed the full scale of the military and human cost from Iran's retaliatory strikes.

Why The Iranian F-5 Jet Claim Raises Fresh Questions About US Air Defences

According to the report, Iran struck more than 100 targets across 11 US bases in the Middle East, including sites in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Two officials told NBC News that the F-5 incident was 'the first time an enemy fixed-wing aircraft has struck an American military base in years.'

That claim stands in sharp contrast to remarks Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made at a 30 March Pentagon briefing, when he told reporters that Iran's missiles would not make it to their targets. 'There is almost nothing they can militarily do about it. Yes, they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down.'

How the Reported War Damage Climbed Above £3.7 Billion

AEI's assessment, according to the report, estimated that Iran caused well over £3.7 billion ($5 billion) in damage during the strikes. That figure comes on top of the deaths of 13 service members and injuries to nearly 400 troops, based on the Pentagon's count.

The findings have added weight to concerns that the publicly available picture of the conflict has been incomplete. NBC News reported that a notable number of Iranian missiles made it through US and allied defences, undercutting earlier official assurances.

Why Republicans Are Demanding Clearer Answers From the Pentagon

Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about limited disclosure, according to the NBC News report. One Republican congressional aide told NBC News, 'No one knows anything. And it's not for lack of asking. We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record high budget.'

President Donald Trump, 79, had previously dismissed the idea that Iran could inflict such damage. He maintained on Friday that Iran had 'been obliterated.' He added on Saturday that Washington had 'all the cards' in peace negotiations.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment, but an official told NBC News, 'We do not discuss battle damage assessments for operation security reasons. Our forces remain fully operational, and we continue to execute our mission with the same readiness and combat effectiveness.' The White House and AEI also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How Satellite Restrictions Added To Concerns About Hidden Damage

Questions about transparency have stretched beyond damaged buildings and equipment. An analysis by The Intercept this week claimed the number of American service member casualties may also be higher than what the Pentagon has made public.

The report also said the White House asked private satellite companies not to publish images of US bases in the region after the Iranian strikes. Planet Labs disclosed in a 4 April email to customers that its 14-day blackout of those areas was being extended, while the Daily Beast noted that publicly available satellite imagery had already helped reveal before-and-after damage at American installations.

Iranian F-5 Jet Breached Us Air Defences, the Massive War Damage Trump's Team Covered Up | IBTimes UK