PNN – A Hebrew media outlet claimed in a report that the US military has put on the agenda the transfer of military bases from the southern Persian Gulf to Israel as part of its military reorganization.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; in a report on this matter, Israeli Channel 14 TV admitted that after the heavy damage inflicted on 20 US bases in the Persian Gulf region, a plan is being developed to transfer these bases to Israel (occupied Palestine).
According to this Hebrew-language media outlet, after the US bases in the Persian Gulf region, especially the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, were severely damaged in the 40-day war, the US is seeking to transfer the headquarters of these bases to Israel, especially since the extent of the damage caused by Iranian missile and drone strikes is significantly greater than what has been announced.
Part of the report states: The Pentagon is currently examining radical changes in the deployment of its forces in the region, and within this framework, it plans to reduce its forces in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, move its main headquarters to underground shelters, and move operational units to more western regions, with Israel (occupied Palestine) being one of the possible destinations for hosting these bases.
Israeli media later reported: Between late February and June, Iran repeatedly targeted the US Fifth Naval Base in Bahrain, the only US naval base in the Middle East.
The base was heavily attacked, causing significant damage to the Central Command headquarters, at least a dozen other buildings and two satellite communications stations.
But the US military reported no casualties at the base and (it claimed) the attacks did not cause significant disruption to operations. However, most personnel were evacuated, with only a few remaining on site.
The heavy attacks are forcing U.S. Central Command to reassess its military presence in the region, as it realizes that Iran’s advanced precision weapons have left older bases in the Persian Gulf completely vulnerable.
The Bahrain base was built long before Iran had its current arsenal of missiles and drones, and the war has exposed its structural weaknesses.
The U.S. military is now considering rebuilding the Fifth Marine Base in Bahrain, reducing the U.S. presence in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and moving some bases or command functions westward — out of range of Iranian missiles and drones, senior officials familiar with the discussions say.
Among the measures being considered: buildings that are destroyed or severely damaged may not be rebuilt on the spot; critical command and control centers will be moved to protected underground bunkers; and military capabilities will be spread over a wider area to make a concentrated attack more difficult.
The economic cost of reconstruction and redeployment is expected to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, possibly more.
Pentagon auditor Guy Hurst told Congress last month that the department’s estimate of the cost of the war – then $29 billion – did not include damage to U.S. bases.