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Josh Meyer@JoshMeyerDC · Sep 1, 2026

1/ A source told me one of Iran's newest ballistic missiles was tearing into US bases across the Gulf, even as the…

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Summary

Iran's advanced Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles successfully struck US military bases in the Gulf region, causing significant damage despite Pentagon claims that defenses were holding and arsenals were obliterated. Satellite analysis and intelligence officials confirm hundreds of structures were damaged across multiple US bases, contradicting official statements about operational capability.

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  1. #1

    1/ A source told me one of Iran's newest ballistic missiles was tearing into US bases across the Gulf, even as the Trump admin insisted its campaign obliterated Tehran’s arsenal and our defenses were holding. Two very different stories. So I got to work. Here's what I found.🧵

  2. #2

    2/ The scoop: This week Iran used that missile –the Kheibar Shekan, or ‘Castle Breaker’ – in strikes on two US bases in Jordan, Tehran's state media confirmed. The IRGC says they caused 'significant damage.’ The Pentagon didn’t return my @USATODAY requests for comment.

  3. #3

    3/ What makes it different: a solid-fuel, mobile-launch missile with 900-mile range, maneuverable warhead & satellite guidance that can turn on a dime. Some can slip past Patriot/THAAD defenses US has leaned on for decades. Analysts told me it’s hard to spot and kill pre-launch.

  4. #4

    4/ Analysts believe Castle Breakers were also used in the July 17 strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed three US troops. Iran itself made that claim in govt statements I obtained. One former US intel officer called that strike a "live combat test" of the weapon.

  5. #5

    5/ The damage is real and largely unacknowledged by the US. Ret'd 4-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey said the US has ‘probably permanently lost access to 15 Persian Gulf bases.’ Satellite analysis found 100s of structures damaged or destroyed across 15+ US sites incl Navy's Bahrain hub.

  6. #6

    6/ DoD says its defenses work virtually all the time and its forces ‘remain fully operational.’ But experts – including former CIA, Army, DIA and Marine intelligence officials – told me say enough missiles are getting through to do real damage. Full story: bit.ly/4zP03Uj