Pentagon weighing smaller U.S. military presence in Gulf once Iran war ends: Report
The policy office is evaluating whether to leave damaged bases unrepaired and shift forces westward as Iranian attacks expose vulnerabilities, officials said.
- On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported the Pentagon is evaluating a potential reduction in forces from America across the Gulf, viewing the conflict as "a once-in-a-generation chance for the Pentagon to reconsider its presence in the region."
- Iranian missile and drone strikes on regional bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE exposed vulnerabilities in the current basing system, forcing the Pentagon to weigh risks to facilities previously considered essential.
- Former Centcom commander General Frank McKenzie called current basing systems an "artefact," noting forward headquarters 100 miles from Iran create unacceptable risk; former CIA director David Petraeus added in May that America is "not as inclined to occupy these bases."
- Admiral Bradley Cooper, current head of Centcom, has supported discussions about moving troops from the Gulf; the military from America has already begun shifting forces westward, gaining access to Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia in March after Iranian strikes pummelled Prince Sultan Air Base.
- By potentially bypassing damaged sites and restructuring regional defense, the Pentagon aims to align its military posture with the current realities of Iranian missile threats in a permanent consolidation of forces rather than a reactive measure.
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Pentagon weighs 'once-in-a-generation' pivot as Trump exposes major 'vulnerability': WaPo
The Department of Defense is weighing a retreat and not rebuilding bases after President Donald Trump exposed Middle East vulnerabilities.According to a Tuesday article, the Pentagon's policy office is evaluating whether to retreat long-term from the Persian Gulf after Iranian strikes battered milit...
Video shows when missiles fall into US military base in Jordan, says agency The United States evaluates reducing military presence in the Middle East and may even stop rebuilding bases hit by Iranian attacks in recent months, reported The Washington Post on Tuesday (18). ✅ Follow the international news channel of the G1 in WhatsApp The newspaper heard eight people with knowledge of the subject, including US authorities. If the proposal advances,…
Pentagon weighs leaving Persian Gulf after Iran ‘exposed vulnerabilities’
(Photo credit: ZUMA Press) The Cradle AUG 18, 2026 Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia have been floated as ‘safer ground’ for US military bases The Pentagon is reassessing its military footprint in Persian Gulf countries after months of losses inflicted by Iran, the Washington Post reported on 18 August. Two people familiar with the ongoing...
It has been suggested that the Pentagon is considering reducing its military presence in the Persian Gulf following the end of the war with Iran. CENTCOM has approximately 20 US military bases in the region, stretching from Jordan to Oman, where around 40,000 American troops are stationed.
The devastation wrought by Iranian attacks on American military bases gives Washington a unique opportunity to limit its "footprint" in the region.
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