On Sept. 15, CBS News published photographs showing extensive damage to American aircraft and bases from Iranian drones and missiles. The images revealed destruction at Camp Buehring in Kuwait and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, contradicting claims of limited impact. Active service members leaked the photos due to rigid media restrictions within the military.

One service member stated, "This is major damage to our bases that hasn't been communicated to the American public." The Trump administration has waged war without public debate, congressional authorization, or U.N. Security Council approval. Pete Hegseth, the so-called secretary of war, only takes questions from friendly outlets, and no mainstream news organizations have reporters embedded with U.S. military units in the Middle East. Pentagon sources are increasingly reluctant to talk to journalists for fear of retaliation.

Americans were left relying on dueling news releases and social media rumors to assess the conflict's progress. The combination of leaks and commercial satellite photos eventually made it impossible for the administration to maintain its spin.