JAKARTA - The United States (US) is reviewing its military presence in the Middle East. This is the result of dozens of US infrastructure in the region being severely affected by the US-Israeli war against Iran since February 28, 2026.
It should be noted that for US assets in Bahrain, they have repeatedly been the target of Iranian missile and drone attacks in response to US attacks on the Islamic Republic.
From February 28 to June 2026, Iran was recorded repeatedly launching attacks on the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain), the only US naval base in the Middle East alias West Asia.
According to the WSJ's investigation based on satellite imagery, videos shared on social media, and interviews with active military members and former military members, the Iranian attack penetrated the NSA Bahrain defense, causing major damage that has not been publicly announced by the Pentagon.
The command headquarters and many US military buildings at the US naval base were severely affected, including two satellite communication terminals.
The US military said there were no casualties from the Iranian attack on the base, most of its soldiers were later evacuated, while some continued to work as usual.
On Sunday, June 28, Iran again fired missiles and drones at US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, shortly after the US military announced an attack on Iran.
The US has accused Iran of attacking a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz amid a peace deal that has taken effect.
US Reevaluates Its Assets in the Middle East
The WSJ reported that the severe damage to the US naval base in Bahrain, as well as at least 20 US assets throughout the Middle East, including military bases and diplomatic buildings, has prompted the US to review its military infrastructure presence in West Asia.
According to the report, the US military is currently considering redesigning its base in Bahrain, but reducing its presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as well as moving a number of its military bases or functions further west, beyond the reach of Iranian missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, a number of buildings were severely damaged at the US military base in the Middle East, which may not be rebuilt. For command and control facilities, they could potentially be moved underground.
However, officials who are sources of the WSJ said that until now these options have not entered the final decision.
Still based on the report, Israel is said to be one of the considerations for becoming a US military base in the future.
During the US-Israeli war against Iran, Israel hosted dozens of US aircraft, including fighter jets and aerial refueling planes.
Post-War Ongkos
Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst told US lawmakers last month that the US Defense Department's war costs in the Iran war mission were estimated at $29 billion, but that figure did not include damage to US military bases in the Middle East.
The WSJ estimates that just to rebuild a structure similar to the one damaged in the NSA Bahrain, the US would need around USD400 million, based on the US Department of Defense cost model and publicly available procurement records.
The estimated cost only covers construction costs, excluding additional costs that may arise if reconstruction is carried out, such as debris cleaning or strengthening of new structures.
A report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Tuesday said the total cost of the US war on Iran is estimated at around USD40 billion.
The figure includes an estimate of the damage to all US bases in the Middle East between USD2.2 billion and USD5.1 billion, based on the think tank's identification of buildings affected by the attacks.
Before the conflict began, a number of US military officials had warned that US military bases in the Middle East or the Persian Gulf were very vulnerable.
A proposal to move US military facilities in the Middle East away from the range of Iranian drones and missiles to the west was also reportedly discussed during the first term of US President Donald Trump, but was never implemented.
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