Iranian Drone Strikes: A New Era of Warfare
Iranian drone strikes have been revealed to have caused significant damage to U.S. military assets and critical energy infrastructure, according to a recent analysis by the Daily Mail’s Photo Evidence. Since the U.S. and Israel launched their initial bombing campaign on February 28, which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has responded with a series of drone attacks targeting key strategic locations across the region.
In the latest episode of Photo Evidence, reporter Catherine Barnwell examined satellite imagery to assess the impact of these strikes and determine the extent of the damage. One of the most notable targets was Al Muwaffaq Air Base in central Jordan, a crucial hub for U.S. military operations in the region.
Before the conflict, more than 60 U.S. aircraft were observed at the base, including advanced models such as F-35 stealth fighter bombers, F-16 fighter bombers, and F-15 air superiority fighters. These aircraft represent the cutting edge of America’s military capabilities, designed to penetrate Iran’s air defenses. Some were seen parked openly, while others were likely housed in aircraft shelters, making them less visible from satellite view.
Despite being over 500 miles away from Iran, far beyond the range of many Iranian weapons, the base was hit multiple times during the early days of the war. One of the most significant strikes targeted a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, one of only eight in the world.
THAAD is a critical component of the American air defense network, designed to protect high-value bases from long-range ballistic threats. However, it appears to have a vulnerability when it comes to slow-moving, low-flying incursions. This suggests that Shahed kamikaze drones, each valued at around $35,000, were able to destroy a billion-dollar air defense battery.
After images showed the ruined remains of the system’s powerful radar, worth $500 million alone, with two blast sites visible. The loss of this anti-ballistic system means either Patriot missiles, which operate alongside THAAD, will need to work harder to compensate, or the U.S. may have to redeploy another system from somewhere else, such as the Pacific, where they are focused on defending Taiwan.
This attack and others like it indicate that Iran is not just firing randomly at U.S. bases. Instead, it is strategically targeting their weakest points and achieving significant damage. This requires sophisticated intelligence gathering, which may hint at the involvement of other U.S. rivals, such as Russia.
The show also examined similar strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where a large number of American aircraft had gathered before the conflict broke out. These included E-3 Sentry AWACS planes, which serve as flying radar dishes, acting as the eyes of America’s fighter jets, and KC-135 mid-air refueling aircraft.
A second satellite photo taken in March showed smoke rising from a nearby air defense site, which had previously housed another THAAD radar, valued at half a billion dollars.
This attack, along with the one in Jordan, suggests that Iran is employing a strategy of suppressing enemy air defenses, a tactic that the U.S. and Israel used against Iran in their initial strikes.
Another base targeted was the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, which was bombed at the very beginning of the Iran war. The target was two white circular structures known as radomes—radar domes—which satellite ‘after’ images showed to be obliterated.
One radome appeared to have been destroyed by a precise strike, likely captured on camera featuring the drone. There was a single blast crater with a blackened patch on the ground, likely carbon left behind by the fire caused by the explosion. The second radome was not as cleanly destroyed, with at least two separate impact areas where the dome once stood, as well as damage to nearby buildings.
“So far, we’ve seen evidence of two Iranian strategies running in parallel: striking U.S. radar to hinder its ability to see and stop future attacks, and attacking U.S. command posts to reduce its ability to prosecute the war,” Catherine explains. “Both strategies would be familiar to any military commander. But now we’re about to see evidence of a third, less conventional strategy that is proving far more effective than either.”
That strategy involves targeting energy infrastructure in neighboring countries with the goal of disrupting oil production and pressuring President Trump to end the war.
On March 2, 2026, Iran struck the oil refinery in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, which can refine half a million barrels of oil daily, making it vital to global energy security. Satellite imagery shows scorch marks on the ground in at least three sections of the plant, likely carbon residue from oil that ignited after sparks from multiple explosions. In one area, firefighters are still trying to extinguish a fire.
The culprit was again thought to be Iranian drones, which were reportedly shot down by Saudi Arabian air defenses. However, the burning wreckage fell into the refinery and caused the fires. As a result, Ras Tanura had to shut down operations for almost two weeks, costing the global economy an estimated five and a half million barrels of oil.
The tactic of targeting energy infrastructure has proven successful for Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz closed for shipping and oil refineries under attack, the price of a barrel of Brent crude rose to $119, although it has since dropped to sub-$100.
Drones appear to have acted as the great equalizer in this conflict. While Iran cannot match the U.S.’s aerial might, the cheap and easily manufactured aerial vehicles have caused significant damage across the region. For Barnwell’s full breakdown of Iran’s devastating drone attacks, subscribe to the Daily Mail World channel on YouTube.
