560 US soldiers killed or injured in Iranian attacks across the region
560 US soldiers killed or injured in Iranian attacks across the region
TEHRAN – At least 560 American military personnel have been killed or wounded during ongoing Iranian attacks targeting U.S. bases across West Asia, as well as their residences and hotels in Persian Gulf nations, according to a statement by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran commenced strikes on American military installations in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq mere hours after the U.S. and Israel launched retaliatory assaults on Iranian soil Saturday morning. The initial American and Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of 165 female elementary students targeted at a school in southern Iran, 18 female teenagers playing volleyball in southwestern Iran, and numerous other civilians across Tehran and Iran’s central cities. Furthermore, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several military officials, were also martyred on Saturday.
At least 16 military installations have been subjected to repeated missile and drone strikes by Iranian forces, the Tehran Times understands. Iran also began targeting the housing of U.S. soldiers and commanders after they were evacuated to hotels and residential towers. Reports indicate that one tower housing U.S. forces in Bahrain, one hotel in Bahrain, one hotel in the UAE, and multiple U.S. military residences on Emirati territory have so far been struck; footage shared by social media users suggests many of these structures have been significantly damaged.
While the official U.S. account maintains that only three American soldiers have died with about a dozen injured, analysts suggest the actual figures are substantially higher based on publicly available evidence.
The primary military installations repeatedly hit include Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, noted as the largest U.S. base in West Asia and the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM); Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, a vital hub near Abu Dhabi; Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base in Jordan; Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, a major logistical asset for U.S. forces; the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Manama; and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The attacks have not ceased since their commencement and are anticipated to continue in the coming days, with satellite imagery and social media posts reportedly showing severe impact across all targeted bases.
U.S. forces will likely face increasing difficulty intercepting the incoming barrage of Iranian missiles and drones. This challenge stems from the fact that the U.S. has yet to replenish the interceptors expended during the preceding conflict it initiated against Iran in June 2025. During that earlier war, the U.S. was ostensibly defending Israel—which is also being attacked by Iran in the current escalation—but depleted nearly one-third of its entire air defense missile arsenal, according to previous reports from American media outlets.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that Iran has “no limits” in defending itself, adding that all U.S.-Israeli military assets in the region are considered legitimate targets. “We are not attacking our brothers in the Persian Gulf; we are attacking U.S. bases,” he explained.
Iran’s Security Chief, Ali Larijani, reiterated that Iran is targeting U.S. assets in the region, not regional states. In a separate post on X, Larijani said Iranian missiles and drones have already hurt Americans and Israelis, but they will “hurt more” in the coming hours and days.
An IRGC advisor, speaking on Iran’s national television, stated that the country has prepared for a prolonged war.
source: tehrantimes.com