Pentagon Reviews Gulf Bases After Iranian Strikes Caused $400 Million Damage in Bahrain
Updated
Updated · India Today · Jun 26
Pentagon Reviews Gulf Bases After Iranian Strikes Caused $400 Million Damage in Bahrain
3 articles · Updated · India Today · Jun 26
Summary
$400 million in rebuilding costs at NSA Bahrain alone has sharpened a Pentagon review of whether US bases in the Gulf should be relocated, downsized or redesigned.
Repeated Iranian missile and drone strikes from late February to June damaged the command headquarters, at least 12 other buildings and two satellite communications terminals, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation.
US officials say no personnel were killed at the base because most staff had been evacuated before the heaviest attacks, even as several missiles and drones penetrated air defenses.
Options under study include moving some command functions farther west, putting more facilities underground and dispersing forces across smaller sites; Israel is among locations considered for added US assets.
The broader war cost about $40 billion, CSIS estimates, with damage to US bases put at $2.2 billion to $5.1 billion as Washington reassures Gulf allies on regional security.
How will the costly failure of US bases in the Gulf reshape America's global military strategy?
The recent ceasefire promises billions to rebuild Iran. Is this a sustainable peace or a prelude to the next conflict?
The 2026 Gulf Crisis: Iranian Missile Strikes, US Military Vulnerabilities, and the Five-Week Closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Overview
In early 2026, Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted US military bases across the Gulf, including Camp Buehring in Kuwait, which suffered visible damage. Iranian state media released images of the aftermath, highlighting a deliberate strategy to publicize the strikes. These attacks exposed major vulnerabilities in the US military’s regional posture, especially the close proximity of US assets to Iran. The incident triggered a reassessment of US strategy, as satellite imagery revealed a more complex damage footprint than initially reported. The events underscored the need for the US to adapt its military presence and communication in response to evolving threats.