US Mulls Base Relocation Amidst Iranian Drone and Missile Strikes
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal,” citing satellite imagery, social media videos, and interviews with American military personnel, has disclosed that Iranian missile and drone attacks, which penetrated US air defenses, caused serious damage to a US naval base in Bahrain.
The newspaper reported that although the extent of the damage has not yet been officially confirmed by the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), the command center and at least 12 other buildings, along with two satellite communication stations at the base, have been severely affected.
Reassessing US Troop Deployments in the Region
The Wall Street Journal, quoting informed American officials, reported that the extensive damage to the sole US naval base in the Middle East, coupled with attacks targeting at least 20 US bases across the region, including military and diplomatic facilities, is compelling the United States to re-evaluate its presence in the Middle East. Officials indicated that the US military is currently exploring options for rebuilding the Bahrain base, potentially reducing its footprint in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and relocating some bases or their functions westward to mitigate threats from Iranian missiles and drones.
These sources revealed that the US military might adopt new measures concerning its affected bases in the Middle East. These could include foregoing the reconstruction of damaged American facilities, moving command and control centers underground, and expanding the geographical distribution of military capabilities throughout the region.
The newspaper’s report highlighted that the administration of President Donald Trump had previously pressured satellite imagery providers in April to restrict access to images depicting the extent of destruction at American bases and other targeted locations during the conflict. This action made it difficult to form a comprehensive and clear picture of the damage sustained by the US in these attacks.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon’s reluctance to openly disclose the costs of US damage resulting from hostilities with Iran has led to dissatisfaction among lawmakers in Congress.
In an independent effort, The Wall Street Journal analyzed satellite imagery and videos published on social media platforms to estimate the cost of constructing similar buildings at current prices, identifying the damaged structures at the Bahrain base. The newspaper’s analysis suggests that the construction cost of the National Security Agency base in Bahrain was approximately $400 million. However, these estimates are limited to construction expenses and do not account for additional potential costs arising from the operations, such as debris removal and structural reinforcement.
