Israel is preparing to invite the United States to shift some of its military bases in West Asia to its territory and to set up new ones once the current war ends. The proposal, reported by Channel 12
citing unnamed security sources, is part of a wider plan to rethink the positioning of American forces in the region.
According to the report, Israel’s security establishment believes the situation offers a chance to “reshape the map” of US military deployment in the Middle East. This comes at a time when American forces are already present in the region and security challenges continue to evolve.
An Israeli source said the country has recently shown its value as a key ally of the United States, providing stability as well as strong operational and intelligence support. The source added that American bases in Israel would give both countries a strategic advantage.
Plan to shift bases from Gulf countries
Israeli officials see what they call a “rare opportunity” to move US military assets from bases in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. These locations have come under Iranian strikes, exposing their vulnerability.
Under the proposal, parts of facilities such as Al Udeid in Qatar, the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, and Al Dhafra in the UAE could be relocated to more secure sites in Israel.
New bases and military coordination
The plan also includes setting up new bases in Israel. These could act as logistics hubs and make use of the War Reserves Stockpile-Israel for munitions. There would also be closer coordination in maintaining aircraft such as F-35 and F-16 fighter jets.
Israel is offering its advanced air defence systems, including THAAD, Patriot and laser interceptors, along with intelligence-sharing capabilities, as part of the proposal.
Early talks with Washington
Discussions with the administration of US President Donald Trump are still at an early stage. Security sources say the plan could bring strategic benefits to both sides without the need to deploy additional ground troops.
The proposal comes after recent strikes linked to the conflict exposed risks to existing US bases in the Gulf, with reported damage running into hundreds of millions of dollars.
