Why Is Iran Targeting Radars and Satellites?

Iran says its missile and drone campaign isn’t just about hitting airfields—it’s targeting the radar and communications networks that make U.S. and Israeli defenses work.

The strategy: disable the sensors that detect incoming missiles, and the entire defensive shield collapses.

U.S. bases across the Gulf host radar, intelligence, and command systems that support regional surveillance. Al Udeid in Qatar, Al Dhafra in the UAE, and Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan are all part of the architecture.

If radar coverage is degraded, warning times shrink, interceptors launch blind, and defenses falter. Striking a radar can do more damage than hitting a missile battery.