The United States is weighing changes to its military footprint in the Middle East, prompted primarily by Iranian attacks on its bases in the Gulf nations, according to a report.
Citing serving and former US service members, analyses of satellite imagery and social-media footage, the Wall Street Journal reported that the damage to the US Navy’s headquarters in Bahrain was extensive—damage that the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed. The command headquarters and at least a dozen other buildings had been especially hit hard, the Journal added.
This has prompted a reassessment of the vulnerability of American bases within range of Iranian missiles and drones.
The report said that US officials are considering rebuilding the Bahrain naval facility while reducing the military footprint in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
One option under discussion is relocating some US bases and operations to Israel, the newspaper reported.
