The US military is considering whether to reduce its presence in the Persian Gulf after Iranian attacks badly damaged several American bases in the region, according to a report cited by Antiwar.com.
Dave DeCamp of Antiwar.com reported that The Washington Post said the damage has created what the Post described as a “once-in-a-generation chance” for the Pentagon to rethink its footprint in the Gulf.
Damaged bases raise bigger questions
According to the report, many US bases in the Gulf had already been evacuated before the US and Israel began a bombing campaign against Iran on February 28 because the facilities were viewed as vulnerable.
Antiwar.com reported that some of those bases have since been largely abandoned after heavy Iranian attacks.
During the most recent round of strikes, the report said the US moved many forces back to Jordan. Iran was still able to strike US bases there, killing at least three US troops, injuring more than 100 others, and destroying military equipment, according to the account.
Possible shift away from the Persian Gulf
The Washington Post report, as summarized by Antiwar.com, said the Pentagon has signaled it may not rebuild its Gulf bases to their previous condition.
Sources told the Post that Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, has been involved in discussions about the future US military posture in the region. The report said Cooper supports holding deliberations on whether to move troops west from the Persian Gulf.
Iran has demanded a US pullback
A reduction of US forces in the Persian Gulf has been one of Iran’s stated conditions for a deal to end the conflict, according to Antiwar.com.
Iranian officials have also repeatedly argued that the war will lead to a US “retreat” from the region, the report said.
The discussions remain reported deliberations, not a confirmed policy decision. Any change to the US posture in the Gulf would still depend on decisions by Pentagon and administration officials.
