Recent news reports confirm that Iran launched targeted attacks against US military bases in the Middle East. Investigations by groups like Bellingcat, the Associated Press, and the Wall Street Journal have pieced together exactly how these strikes happened.

Here is what we know:

* **How they planned it:** Investigators found that Iran used online maps—the kind anyone can use—to find and study US bases. By looking at these maps, they could identify specific buildings and defenses to target.

* **What was hit:** The attacks didn't just hit empty land. Reports show that Iran aimed at US air defense systems first. One major report says a very expensive radar system, known as the THAAD, was destroyed. This system is designed to spot incoming missiles, so losing it makes the US military's warning system much weaker.

* **The damage:** Beyond the radar, the attacks damaged hangars where aircraft are kept and other important buildings.

* **The cost:** There is a lot of talk about the money involved. One report notes a $47 billion bill related to the "America First" policy, raising questions about how much it costs to keep these bases running and protected.

This is a developing situation. Experts are still looking at satellite photos to understand the full scale of the damage. For now, it is clear that the attacks were well-planned and caused real, expensive harm to US military hardware.

Source: Bellingcat