US Evaluates Military Bases in the Middle East After Iranian Strikes

A recent investigation by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reveals that the United States is re-evaluating its military presence in the Middle East. The move follows missile and drone attacks by Iran that caused far greater damage than previously disclosed at at least 20 US sites, including a naval base in Bahrain.

Between late February and June, Iran repeatedly targeted the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain. The attacks heavily damaged the command headquarters, at least a dozen other buildings, and two satellite communication terminals. Although the military stated there were no casualties and operations were not significantly disrupted, the US evacuated most personnel, leaving only a core staff at the site.

Officials familiar with the discussions stated that the military is now considering overhauling the base in Bahrain, reducing its presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and relocating some base functions westward to place them beyond the range of Iranian missiles. Destroyed structures are unlikely to be rebuilt in the same location. Instead, command and control centres are being considered for relocation underground. Additionally, Israel is reportedly being considered as one of the locations for a new base.

Pentagon financial watchdog Jay Hurst told Congress that the estimated war cost of US$29 billion does not yet include the damage to the bases. The US$400 million figure for Bahrain only covers the construction cost of similar buildings, excluding debris clearance and structural reinforcement. A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) states that the total overall cost of the war has reached approximately US$40 billion (around Rp656 trillion).

NSA Bahrain was built long before Iran possessed the precision missile arsenal and advanced drones it has today. This war has exposed the vulnerability of US bases in the Gulf, a risk previously warned about by a number of military officials. A spokesman for US Central Command (Centcom), Captain Tim Hawkins, asserted that their strategy has so far succeeded in prioritising the protection of human life. Out of more than 8,000 missiles and drones fired by Iran, only two attacks resulted in US casualties.