POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: ‘Leaked’ Photos Allegedly Show Iranian Damage to U.S. Bases in the Middle East
The Claim In September 2026, a series of images circulated online, allegedly showing damage to U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which were claimed by anonymous U.S. service members to...
The Claim
In September 2026, a series of images circulated online, allegedly showing damage to U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which were claimed by anonymous U.S. service members to have been caused by Iranian strikes. These images were shared across multiple platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Reddit. One X user posted a video containing six photographs, stating that they had been leaked to CBS News by active service members who were reportedly ‘standing there with our eyes closed getting punched in the face.’ The claim gained traction quickly, with users asserting that the photos confirmed significant damage to U.S. military infrastructure.
The images included what appeared to be a damaged aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, a burned-out vehicle at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, and structures at Camp Arifjan. Some of the photos also contained identifying features, such as a sign reading ’35L S2,’ which is associated with the runway at Prince Sultan Air Base. A CBS News report, citing anonymous service members, described the images as evidence of Iranian attacks on U.S. facilities. However, the authenticity of the images and the accuracy of the claim remain unverified, raising questions about whether this was an unintentional spread of misleading information or a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception.
The Details & Investigation
The CBS News report, titled ‘New Photos Show Widespread Damage at U.S. Positions Caused by Iranian Missile, Drone Attacks,’ featured six images that purportedly showed damage to U.S. military installations. According to the report, the photos were obtained from ‘active service members on condition of anonymity because of rigid media restrictions within the military.’ However, the lack of independent verification of the images’ origin or authenticity raises serious concerns about their reliability. Snopes, which investigated the claim, noted that it could not independently verify the images due to the anonymous nature of the sources, and therefore left the authenticity of the images unrated.
One of the images in the CBS report showed a damaged E-3 Sentry aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base. This aligns with earlier reports from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, which indicated that an E-3 aircraft had been damaged in an Iranian strike in March 2026. Additionally, a report submitted to Congress in September 2026 as part of the Lead Inspector General’s review of Operation Epic Fury mentioned that one E-3 aircraft had been ‘damaged on the ground in Saudi Arabia by Iranian strikes.’ However, the exact location and timing of the image in question were not independently confirmed by Snopes, leaving some ambiguity around its relevance to the September 2026 claim.
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Another image in the CBS report depicted damage to a tent structure and trailers at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. The Institute for the Study of War has documented that Iran has claimed to have struck Camp Buehring multiple times since the start of the conflict. Meanwhile, a burned-out vehicle in one of the images bore a mural featuring a hand grasping three lightning bolts, which is associated with the 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. This unit had previously been deployed to Camp Buehring, suggesting that the image may have been taken at that location. However, without direct confirmation from the source or metadata analysis, the image’s authenticity remains unverified.
Furthermore, the U.S. government generally does not publicly confirm damage to military bases or equipment overseas due to operational security concerns. For example, in April 2026, the Pentagon declined to comment on reported damage to U.S. bases in several Middle Eastern countries. Similarly, the September 2026 report on Operation Epic Fury did not include specific details about damage to military bases, only mentioning damage to diplomatic facilities. This lack of transparency complicates efforts to independently verify the accuracy of the viral claim. While some elements of the images align with known incidents, the claim appears to be based on uncorroborated sources and lacks definitive proof of intentional deception or error.
The Verdict
The viral claim that ‘leaked’ photos show Iranian damage to U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is neither fully substantiated nor definitively false. While certain elements of the images—such as the presence of a sign indicating the 35L runway at Prince Sultan Air Base and the identification of the 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion—align with known military locations and units, the lack of independent verification and the anonymous nature of the sources prevent a conclusive determination of the claim’s validity. As such, the claim falls into the category of MISLEADING rather than FALSE or TRUE, due to the potential for both unintentional misinterpretation and deliberate manipulation.
Although the CBS News report cited anonymous service members, the absence of verifiable evidence—such as metadata analysis, direct confirmation from military officials, or independent corroboration—casts doubt on the claim’s credibility. The U.S. government’s reluctance to publicly acknowledge such damage further complicates the situation, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine incidents and fabricated or exaggerated accounts. Given these factors, the claim should be treated with caution, and the viral spread of the images should be considered a case of MISINFORMATION, as it likely resulted from the circulation of unverified content rather than a coordinated disinformation campaign.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
