Satellite Imagery Reveals Scale of Destruction in US-Israel War on Iran

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran 100 days ago, the full scale of destruction across the region has remained difficult to assess. Satellite imagery companies, including Planet Labs—the world's largest commercial satellite operator based in California—imposed an indefinite ban on images of the conflict at Washington's request. However, before the restrictions took effect, space cameras from Airbus, Planet Labs, Sentinel and Vantor captured a comprehensive picture of the devastation.

Al Jazeera's Open Source unit has compiled 15 locations from Iran, Lebanon and across the Gulf showing what this war looks like from above.

Sites in Iran: The Natanz complex in Isfahan province, Iran's largest uranium enrichment facility, was attacked twice in June 2025—first by Israel, then by the US as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, using GBU-57 bunker buster bombs alongside strikes on Fordow and Isfahan. Before-and-after satellite images show direct structural damage to buildings, ramps and personnel/vehicle entrances leading to the underground enrichment halls.

Siri Island, about 70km off Iran's southern coast, serves as a critical alternative oil export hub for several major oil fields. Satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 on April 15, 2026 shows a large fire at the island's oil facilities, with analysis indicating a direct hit on the largest storage tank holding 1 million barrels, following similar attacks on the main Kharg oil export terminal.

Bandar Abbas, Iran's port city near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, appears in satellite images from Planet Labs and Airbus showing widespread destruction at 11 locations, including heavy structural damage to main warehouses and a berthed vessel. Fath Air Base near Karaj, 35km west of Tehran, the primary operating hub of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force, shows collapsed roofs and severe structural damage at northern hangars, along with debris and burn marks on the runway.

Bandar Abbas naval base, situated on the Strait of Hormuz, is the Iranian Navy's main home port. Satellite imagery from March 2 shows a direct hit on the ship "IRIS Makran," with fire on its hull and thick smoke rising from the deck, alongside a large blaze affecting key facilities inside the base.

Sites in Lebanon: Naqoura, in southwestern Lebanon, hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Satellite images show more than 100 buildings destroyed. Bint Jbeil, the symbolic and historical capital of southern Lebanon's border region, records heavy damage to approximately 725 buildings. Rachaf, a strategic hilltop town, shows entire residential neighborhoods flattened. Kozah and Beit Lif, neighboring towns in southern Lebanon, suffered heavy damage to historic, civilian and religious landmarks, including St. Joseph's Church and a UNIFIL peacekeeping position.

Sites in the Gulf: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the forward headquarters of US Central Command, sustained structural damage at three locations, including a destroyed logistics building. Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base shows damage at nine sites from debris of Iranian ballistic missiles intercepted by Kuwait's air defenses. Al-Dhafra Air Base, 32km south of Abu Dhabi, suffered direct hits on several main hangars. Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base, 80km south of Riyadh, records damage at at least three sites following Iranian missile and drone attacks, including scorch marks on the runway and a direct strike on the main runway. The US 5th Fleet headquarters at the Mina Salman naval facility in Manama, Bahrain, suffered widespread structural damage after Iranian attacks, including direct hits on multiple radar domes.