Hawzah News Agency- The US’s al-Udeid base in Qatar likely suffered damage as a result of Iran's highly choreographed missile attack in June, according to satellite images reviewed by news organisations.
A geodesic dome housing equipment used for secure communications appeared to have suffered damage from the Iranian strikes, according to images first reported on Thursday by London-based news site Iran International from the geospatial analytics company, Satellogic.
A satellite image of the US base before Iran’s 23 June strike shows the large white globe intact. An image taken on 24 June after the attack shows the globe replaced by a black smear.
The Associated Press also reported the damage by comparing satellite images obtained from Planet Labs of the base on the morning of 23 June - just before the attack - and the following days.
“It is possible a fragment or something else struck the dome, but given the destruction of the dome, it was likely an Iranian attack, possibly with a bomb-carrying drone, given the limited visible damage to surrounding structures'', the Associated Press report said.
If a drone were used, it would suggest Iran was able to penetrate al-Udeid’s air defences while the US and Qatar focused on shooting down ballistic missiles. That could give Iran insights into gaps in American air defences for future attacks.
Iran lauded the attack as a major success. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said al-Udeid was the “target of a destructive and powerful missile attack”, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the base was “smashed”.
Source: MIDDLE EAST EYE
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