The US Navy is assessing what to do with its key military base in Bahrain after Iranian strikes caused extensive damage to the facility, The Hill reported,
citing local media. The facility, Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NASB), is the headquarters of US Naval Forces Central Command and the US Fifth Fleet. “They blew the hell out of Bahrain,” US official Cao said in an interview with The Epoch Times, published Thursday, referring to the extent of the damage at the base. NASB has been repeatedly targeted by Iran since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran in late February. The base serves as an important logistics hub for US Navy operations in the Middle East. Cao said the Navy was now looking at different options for the facility, including whether it should be repaired. “I have a task force that’s looking at that,” he told The Epoch Times. The damage has also raised questions over when US personnel can return to the base. In late August, Chief of Naval Operations Adm Daryl Caudle said sailors would not be returning anytime soon, including to collect their personal belongings. “We’re not getting back in there anytime soon,” Caudle said during a town hall on August 31. “I just want to be completely honest with that.”
Other US Bases Targeted
The damage to the Bahrain facility comes amid a wider escalation between the US and Iran, with American military assets across the region coming under attack.
Multiple US aircraft were also damaged in a separate Iranian ballistic missile strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, CBS News reported, citing sources.
An A-10 Thunderbolt was reportedly left with a missing wing, while around eight F-15 fighter jets suffered light damage. The aircraft were later returned to service, according to the report. US forces fired more than 30 Patriot missiles during the attack.
Iran Targets US Naval Assets
Iranian forces have also targeted US naval assets and shipping interests as the conflict has intensified.
The latest escalation followed US strikes on five Iranian oil tankers. US President Donald Trump confirmed Washington's role and warned that further attacks could follow.
The conflict has also put pressure on major energy and shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint, while Iran-aligned Houthi forces have expanded their operations along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
This has raised fresh concerns over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the impact of the conflict on global oil supplies.
