LONDON (Dispatches) -- 
Newly released satellite imagery has uncovered substantial damage to the Al Udeid U.S. airbase in Qatar, following Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes last month. 
The imagery directly contradicts claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the largest American military base in the West Asia region had remained untouched.
The satellite images, provided by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press, reveal that a geodesic dome, known as a Radome, which housed critical secure communications equipment for the U.S. military, was still intact just hours before the Iranian counterstrike. 
However, subsequent images show the dome missing and visible burn marks on the base, along with significant damage to an adjacent building.
According to the findings, the Radome was visible in satellite images taken on the morning of June 23—the day Iran launched its retaliatory operation. However, images taken after June 25 clearly show the structure missing, suggesting that the Iranian strikes had severely damaged the installation.
Despite the damaging evidence, neither U.S. nor Qatari authorities have officially commented on the extent of the damage or provided any public acknowledgment of the attack’s impact.
The Radome, a weatherproof enclosure that housed a modernization enterprise terminal (MET), was installed at the Al Udeid base in 2016 at a cost of $15 million. 
The MET provided secure communication services, including voice, video, and data, and was essential in linking U.S. military personnel across the region with leaders around the world. It also featured anti-jamming technology, making it a critical part of U.S. military operations in the region.
The damage to the MET system comes on the heels of a U.S. bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan on June 22. Iran retaliated the very next day by launching missile strikes on the Al Udeid base.
Despite the significant damage, former President Trump dismissed the Iranian retaliation as “very weak” in a post on Truth Social on June 23, a sentiment that was quickly echoed by U.S. officials. 
Following the strike, the U.S. stopped short of any direct military retaliation, with Trump unilaterally declaring a ceasefire on behalf of Washington and Tel Aviv—a ceasefire that remains in effect.
The attack on Al Udeid, a key U.S. military hub in the region, struck a significant blow to U.S. operations.  

In a scathing opinion piece, the respected U.S. political website The Hill called for the closure of the Al Udeid Airbase, citing its strategic and political vulnerability. 
The article argues that Iran’s missile strike on the base has exposed its weaknesses, rendering it a potential liability both militarily and politically.
The U.S. base in Qatar is no longer a secure outpost, the piece reads, adding it is now a liability.
The Hill also quoted former U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie, who warned that sustained Iranian attacks would leave the base “unusable,” further undermining U.S. military presence in the region.