Blinding the US? How Iran destroyed the $1.1-billion American missile radar in Qatar
FP ExplainersMarch 5, 2026, 11:38:49 IST
Satellite imagery confirms damage to the US AN/FPS-132 early warning radar in Qatar after Iran’s reported precision strike under Operation True Promise 4. The $1.1-billion system formed the backbone of American missile defence in the Gulf, supporting THAAD, Patriot and regional surveillance operations
And
Why Trump’s War With Iran Is Costing Nearly $1 Billion A Day—At Least
ByAlison Durkee,Forbes Staff. Alison is a senior news reporter covering US politics and legal news.Follow Author
Mar 10, 2026, 01:15pm EDT
Topline
The first week of President Donald Trump’s military strikes in Iran have cost American taxpayers over $6 billion, according to Pentagon sources cited by The New York Times—as other sources place estimates even higher—and the ballooning cost of the war could approach $100 billion, depending on how long it stretches on.
And
The Costs of the Iran Conflict for the Gulf
The U.S.-Israel attack on Iran risks deepening global economic problems and pushing Gulf states toward crisis. QatarEnergy’s halt of LNG production underscores the scale of the risks this war entails.
March 8, 2026
Frédéric Schneider
In short order, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has expanded across the region, with Gulf states bearing the brunt of Tehran’s retaliatory campaign aimed at dispersing the costs of the war and pressuring Washington to halt its offensive. This has included targeting energy infrastructure, shipping routes and aviation networks, threatening not only regional stability but the economic and reputational capital that Gulf states have painstakingly built over decades.
A Critical Moment
The war came at a moment of global economic fragility. The second Trump administration had already injected significant uncertainty into the international economic system through erratic tariff policies and a coercive, unilateral foreign policy posture that has unnerved both allies and adversaries. The global economy continues to grapple with persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, and supply chain disruptions stemming from the Red Sea crisis triggered by Houthi attacks linked to the Gaza genocide. Now both of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints—Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz—are under threat.
https://mecouncil.org/blog_posts/the-costs-of-the-iran-conflict-for-the-gulf/
And see Cost or War Tracker:
India as an example of immediate crisis in Asia:
As many as 73 commodities spiked in a single week: some by over 60% as Hormuz disruptions choked the naphtha feedstock flows that Asian steam crackers depend on for 60–80% of their supply,” Ajay Joshi, a chemical sector expert, and founder of an eponymous advisory firm for chemical companies, told The Indian Express.
He added that India is among the most exposed. “Structurally import-dependent on West Asia for crude oil (50%+), LNG (50–55%), ethylene glycol, polymers, methanol, and fertilisers, India faces a compounding cost shock, worsened by the Rupee already at Rs 92 to the US Dollar. The market has not fully priced a prolonged disruption to shipping routes along the Strait of Hormuz,” Joshi added.
Textile to paint to diapers
Note, Operation True Promise:
Iran’s military forces and regional resistance groups have launched a series of retaliatory military strikes against the United States and the Israeli regime, according to reports by state broadcaster Press TV.
The operations, conducted on Sunday, were reportedly led by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army as part of “Operation True Promise 4.” This military action follows what Tehran describes as an unprovoked act of aggression by a US-Israeli coalition against the Islamic Republic.
Since the onset of the escalation, Iranian forces have reportedly executed 27 waves of missile and drone strikes. These attacks used advanced weaponry to target Israeli military facilities in the occupied territories, alongside American occupation bases and assets positioned throughout the West Asia region.
Ships that have ‘gone dark’ and have travelled through the Strait of Hormuz:
‘Shadow Fleet’ have crossed the most
Shadow fleet tankers dominate current crossings of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
They found that, of the 13 large oil and gas carriers that crossed between 2-9 March, eight were classified as part of the so-called shadow fleet.
A tanker is classed as a shadow fleet if it is carrying sanctioned oil cargo from Iran, Russia or Venezuela.
………The IRGC has warned that any US, Israeli or European vessel detected in the strait “will certainly be struck”.
There has been a huge surge in GPS jamming in the region. Hundreds of ships jump around the map and then cluster in very small areas.
GPS ship jamming is when signals are being interrupted, causing ships to send incorrect locations.
It’s impossible to know exactly who is behind the jamming but analysts say it’s likely to be both from Iran and others.
While Iran is widely suspected of trying to disrupt shipping in the region, analysts say the surge in GPS jamming could also be linked to others, including vessels seeking to mask their movements or respond defensively to threats, making it difficult to attribute the interference to a single source.
Popularity of this war, compared to others:
borderslynn 
You must be logged in to post a comment.