WASHINGTON — Iran's retaliation against U.S. forces in the Middle East started with the radar and early-warning systems that let the American military see incoming attacks. Strikes then widened to aircraft, hangars, warehouses and the buildings where troops live, according to two independent analyses of satellite imagery released in the past several days.

The Associated Press reported on Oct. 31 that more than 115 drone and missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures at 26 military bases and other sites holding U.S. equipment through August. The AP verified the damage using imagery from several satellite providers and interviews with four regional officials who had been briefed on the attacks or had firsthand knowledge of them.

A separate Wall Street Journal investigation, which drew on satellite imagery, Iranian military statements and interviews with U.S. officials, identified 274 damaged structures at 24 installations with a U.S. military presence during the war's first six months. The Journal found that Iran increasingly targeted buildings where American troops live and sleep, showing an improved ability to sequence its attacks and hit targets precisely.

Radars were the first targets

The pattern began in the opening days of the war, which started with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Within the first two days, Iranian strikes destroyed the protective enclosures around U.S. radar systems at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Iran also hit portable radars at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

The radar hit in Jordan was reported destroyed. According to its manufacturer, Raytheon, it was one of only 13 such systems the U.S. Army has worldwide, and budget documents put the cost of each at........

© International Business Times