- Troops could be withdrawn from the Persian Gulf, officials told, following months of attacks by Iranian forces that have targeted U.S. bases across the region since the war began in late February.
- The Pentagon’s policy office is evaluating U.S. regional presence, with U.S. Central Command (Centcom) and Joint Staff also looking at the situation, a senior Pentagon official told the outlet.
- Centcom reports that there are currently around 50,000 troops deployed across the Middle East.
- The U.S. has around 20 military bases across the Middle East, including in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar, eight of which are permanent.
- Tehran’s forces have damaged 20 US military sites since the start of the war on 28 February, with reports citing satellite images and videos.
- Damage to U.S. bases has been far more extensive than the Pentagon acknowledged, with millions of dollars of damage to defense systems and refueling aircraft.
- The headquarters of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain has been one of the most significant U.S. bases attacked, responsible for areas across the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and some parts of the Indian Ocean.
- Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar houses around 10,000 troops, making it Washington’s largest in the Middle East, and has also been repeatedly attacked by Iran.
The Pentagon is currently assessing the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, which includes around 50,000 troops deployed across approximately 20 bases. This evaluation comes in the wake of Iranian forces targeting U.S. installations since the war's onset on February 28, leading to significant damage.
According to reports, Tehran's forces have damaged 20 U.S. military sites, with estimates suggesting millions of dollars in damage to defense systems and refueling aircraft. The most notable attacks have included the headquarters of the Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, which oversees operations across the Gulf and surrounding waters.
The Pentagon's policy office, along with U.S. Central Command (Centcom) and the Joint Staff, is involved in this evaluation, indicating a potential shift in U.S. military strategy in the region. Military analysts have raised concerns about Iran's capabilities, suggesting that Tehran could target U.S. assets in Europe if the conflict escalates further.
As tensions rise, one insider noted that Iran is prepared to expand its military actions beyond the region, stating, 'A very big mistake, such as hitting our infrastructure, could make the war go beyond the region and reach Europe.' This highlights the precarious nature of U.S. military operations in the Middle East and the potential for broader conflict.
“The Pentagon is assessing the U.S. military's regional presence, with around 20 bases across the Middle East, including the significant Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses about 10,000 troops. Iranian forces have caused extensive damage to U.S. military sites, with reports indicating millions of dollars in damage to defense systems and aircraft.”
independent.co.uk
