The Pentagon is evaluating its decades-old strategy of relying on large, permanent military bases in the Middle East following a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks that exposed the vulnerability of these installations. Defense officials are considering dispersing U.S. military capabilities and reassessing the overall posture of American forces in the region, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The current network of Gulf bases has historically enabled rapid responses to regional crises, protected vital shipping lanes, reassured allies, and maintained pressure on extremist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda. However, the recent attacks during Operation Epic Fury have reignited a long-standing debate about whether concentrating thousands of troops, aircraft, ships, and command centers at a few major bases has become a significant liability in an era of precision-guided missiles and drones.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery noted that the military has already increased its reliance on alternate command-and-control locations and troop rotations, rather than concentrating all assets at a few installations close to Iran. He suggested that forces are likely to be repositioned.
Operation Epic Fury saw Iran directly target several key U.S. regional installations, including Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet; Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar; Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates; and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. While air defenses successfully intercepted many incoming weapons and minimized casualties, the attacks demonstrated that nearly all major U.S. operating hubs in the Gulf are now within range of Iranian offensive capabilities.
Naval Support Activity Bahrain reportedly sustained significant damage to its command facilities and communications infrastructure. Since the conflict began on February 28, 13 U.S. service members have been killed and 400 wounded, with most of the wounded returning to duty. Fatalities were concentrated in a small number of attacks, including a missile strike in Kuwait and an incident at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, stated that the U.S. military prioritized the protection of personnel, a strategy he indicated was successful, leading to minimal fatalities despite a large volume of Iranian attacks. He also asserted that U.S. forces inflicted significantly more damage on Iran.
Discussions about dispersing forces and reducing reliance on a few large bases have been ongoing within the Pentagon for some time, predating Operation Epic Fury. A senior U.S. official confirmed that these conversations have intensified following the recent attacks.
"As a planning organization, we continually assess the security environment and make adjustments to best support operations and protect our troops. This has always been the case and remains so going forward," Hawkins said.
Possible adjustments being considered include dispersing military capabilities across a wider array of facilities, relocating some bases or functions further west, and potentially moving certain operations to Israel. Officials are also reportedly examining options such as moving some command structures underground or forgoing rebuilding damaged infrastructure. A Department of Defense official stated that no force posture changes have been announced at this time.
Retired Adm. Kevin Donegan, former commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, acknowledged that the strategy is under discussion and that base evaluations will depend on relationships with host countries following the conflict's conclusion.
Montgomery highlighted that the proximity of many large Gulf bases to Iran, some as close as 90 miles, leaves limited reaction time for intercepting drones and missiles. While moving operations further west might offer some buffer, Iran's longer-range missiles could still reach targets across the region, suggesting there may be no completely safe rear areas.
However, spreading command nodes, aircraft, logistics hubs, and personnel across multiple locations could reduce the risk of a single strike disabling critical U.S. military functions. Donegan emphasized the continued need for basing access in the Gulf to address threats beyond Iran, such as instability caused by terrorist groups.
The bases that came under attack are fundamental to America's military presence in the Gulf, supporting approximately 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East. These major installations, largely developed during the post-9/11 wars, are central to U.S. air, naval, and logistical operations across the region.