The most significant consequence of Iran’s missile and drone attacks on the US naval base in Bahrain may extend far beyond the physical destruction of infrastructure. Instead, it could trigger a broader reassessment within the Pentagon about the future of America’s military presence in the Gulf region.
According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, a series of strikes targeting Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain between late February and June caused substantial damage to key military facilities. Drawing on satellite imagery, social media videos, and interviews with current and former US servicemembers, the report suggests the extent of the destruction was far greater than publicly acknowledged by the Pentagon.
The damage has reportedly prompted US defence officials to reconsider the long-term viability of several military installations in the region. Discussions are underway regarding whether some bases should be redesigned, downsized, relocated, or rebuilt to address the increasing threat posed by Iran’s expanding missile and drone capabilities.
The investigation found that multiple Iranian missiles and drones successfully penetrated US air defence systems and struck important sections of NSA Bahrain.
Among the facilities reportedly damaged were the base’s command headquarters, more than a dozen additional buildings, and two satellite communications terminals critical to military operations.
Although the Pentagon has maintained that no personnel were killed at the Bahrain installation and that military operations continued without significant disruption, most American personnel had reportedly been evacuated before the most intense phase of the attacks. Only a limited number of staff remained on the base during the strikes.
Responding to questions about the incident, US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins defended the military’s approach, stating that protecting personnel had been prioritised over protecting infrastructure.
According to Hawkins, the strategy succeeded in minimising casualties despite the scale of the attacks. He also argued that US forces inflicted far greater damage on Iran during the conflict, claiming that American military operations targeted more than 13,500 sites.
Beyond the physical destruction, defence analysts believe the attacks exposed vulnerabilities in the longstanding US military posture across the Gulf.
The strikes have reportedly forced Pentagon planners to examine a range of options, including redesigning the Bahrain facility, reducing troop levels in countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, relocating certain command functions farther from Iran, and expanding the use of underground infrastructure.
Military strategists are also exploring the possibility of dispersing capabilities across multiple smaller facilities rather than concentrating critical assets at a limited number of large bases.
While discussions are ongoing, no final decisions have yet been made.
According to officials cited in the report, Israel is among the locations being considered for hosting additional American military assets after accommodating numerous US aircraft during the conflict.
The financial impact of the attacks remains uncertain.
The Pentagon has so far declined to provide Congress with a comprehensive assessment of the damage suffered by American military facilities during the conflict.
When questioned by lawmakers about the costs in May, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly responded by asking what the cost would have been if Iran had acquired a nuclear weapon.
Subsequently, the Pentagon confirmed that its estimate placing the overall cost of the conflict at $29 billion did not include damage to military bases.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has estimated that the conflict ultimately cost around $40 billion, with damage to US military installations accounting for between $2.2 billion and $5.1 billion.
Using publicly available Defence Department construction estimates, The Wall Street Journal calculated that rebuilding damaged structures at NSA Bahrain alone could cost approximately $400 million.
This estimate covers only construction and does not include the replacement of specialised military hardware, communications systems, or additional security enhancements.
Among the most expensive losses were two destroyed AN/GSC-52B satellite communications terminals, each valued at roughly $20 million, according to CSIS.
Military experts argue that the conflict highlighted weaknesses in infrastructure originally designed decades before Iran developed its current arsenal of precision-guided missiles and drones.
Unlike many overseas US military installations, NSA Bahrain also served as a residential community. The base housed military families and included schools, restaurants, recreational facilities, and commercial services. It often functioned as a rest and recovery point for sailors returning from extended deployments.
The report emerged as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and other Gulf leaders during a regional tour aimed at reaffirming Washington’s commitment to regional security.
Rubio also visited the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, though he did not travel to Saudi Arabia, which reportedly limited US access to its bases and airspace during the conflict.
The idea of relocating some American military assets farther away from Iran had previously been discussed during President Donald Trump’s first term but was never implemented.
Now, following months of missile and drone attacks that successfully reached one of America’s most important naval facilities in the Middle East, the debate over restructuring the US military footprint in the Gulf has gained renewed momentum and urgency.
