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Iranian missile and drone attacks inflicted far greater damage on US military installations across the Middle East than was previously disclosed, prompting
the Pentagon to reconsider the future of its military footprint in the region, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. The report said at least 20 US military sites were damaged during the attacks, including the Navy's strategically important base in Bahrain, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of American installations within range of Iran's expanding missile and drone arsenal.
Bahrain Naval Base Suffered Extensive Damage
Among the hardest-hit locations was Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, the US Navy's only permanent base in the Middle East.
According to the report, repeated Iranian strikes between late February and June damaged the base's command headquarters, at least a dozen other buildings and two satellite communications terminals.
Although the Pentagon has maintained that no US personnel were killed and military operations were not significantly disrupted, the report noted that most personnel had been evacuated before the attacks, with only a small contingent remaining at the base.
The findings come after Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait following recent US airstrikes on Iranian territory.
Bahrain also reported damage to a residential building near its international airport, though authorities said it was not close to the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
Pentagon Reassesses Middle East Military Presence
The scale of the damage has reportedly triggered a review of Washington's long-term military posture in the Gulf.
Citing officials familiar with the discussions, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is considering redesigning the Bahrain naval facility, reducing troop deployments in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and relocating some military assets farther west—beyond the operational range of Iranian missiles and drones.
Officials are also examining whether damaged facilities should be rebuilt at all. Instead, key command-and-control centres could be moved underground, while critical military capabilities may be spread across multiple locations to reduce vulnerability.
No final decisions have been taken, the report added.
Israel is also among the locations being evaluated for future military basing, according to two officials cited by the newspaper.
Rebuilding Damaged Bases Could Cost Hundreds of Millions
The financial impact of the attacks could be substantial. The report said Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst informed Congress last month that the department's estimated $29 billion cost of the conflict did not include damage to US military bases.
Using publicly available Defence Department cost models and procurement data, the Wall Street Journal estimated that rebuilding damaged infrastructure at NSA Bahrain alone could cost around $400 million.
The estimate covers construction costs but excludes additional expenses such as debris removal, site fortification and other recovery work.
Separately, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated the overall cost of the conflict at nearly $40 billion, including between $2.2 billion and $5.1 billion in damage to US military facilities across the region.
Conflict Exposes Growing Vulnerability of Gulf Bases
The investigation said the conflict exposed long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of US military installations in the Gulf.
NSA Bahrain was established long before Iran developed its current arsenal of precision-guided missiles and long-range drones. Military planners had previously warned that many American bases in the region were increasingly exposed to such threats.
According to the report, proposals to shift military infrastructure farther west had been discussed during President Donald Trump's first term but were never implemented.
Iran Warns of Halt to Nuclear Talks
The regional fallout from the conflict continues to affect diplomatic efforts. According to the Associated Press, Iran has warned that negotiations with the United States could come to a "complete halt" if further American military strikes take place.
Talks over sanctions relief, Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and security in the Strait of Hormuz are expected to resume, though tensions remain high following the recent exchange of attacks.
