Associated Press: Iranian strike destroys secure communications dome at U.S. base in Qatar

The images, analyzed by AP, indicate that the geodesic dome—used to shelter sensitive American communications systems—was destroyed in the aftermath of the attack.

A geodesic dome is a structure made of interconnected triangles, known for its geometric design that makes it lightweight yet extremely resistant to pressure and impact.

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC shows the geodesic dome at Al Udeid Air Base still intact on the morning of June 23, just hours before the strike. The U.S. Air Force’s 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which operates from this base, announced back in 2016 the installation of this $15 million piece of equipment, known as a modern enterprise terminal.

Photos taken of the structure show a satellite antenna inside the dome, commonly referred to as a radome.

Imagery captured on June 25 and in the following days shows the dome has been destroyed, with visible damage also apparent to an adjacent building.

In the final part of its report, the Associated Press notes: "As of the time of publication, neither U.S. military officials nor the Qatari government have issued any official response to media inquiries regarding the extent of the damage. The full scale of the damage has not yet been publicly confirmed."