The Pentagon is reassessing its military footprint across the Middle East, an early indication that the ongoing conflict with Iran may fundamentally reshape America's regional presence. Among the key questions under review: whether to pull forces back from Persian Gulf bases that have sustained significant damage from Iranian strikes.
The destruction of facilities has created an opportunity to reconsider the entire regional deployment strategy. Defense officials have indicated they may not rebuild damaged bases to their previous configurations. The analysis is being led by the Pentagon's policy office, working alongside the Joint Staff and Central Command.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not yet ordered a formal review of force posture, with one senior official characterizing the process as "prudent planning." The official noted that "decisions will need to be made on some of these things." Central Command typically maintains approximately 40,000 troops across roughly 20 sites in the region.
Since the beginning of the year, the United States has deployed warships, fighter aircraft, and air defense systems to protect its forces and conduct over 13,000 strikes against Iran. The largest American bases are located in the Persian Gulf, where Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet.
Gulf allies depend heavily on American military strength, and any regional drawdown could leave partner nations without adequate self-defense capabilities. These discussions are expected to intensify the debate between proponents of military intervention and those seeking to focus resources on homeland defense or deterring China.
The conversations include Admiral Bradley Cooper, head of Central Command, who supports discussions about moving forces westward. Before the war began in February 2026, many bases were evacuated due to their vulnerability. One source familiar with the details said: "Iran thinks we're in the traditional places. And we're not."
Six American service members were killed in a March 2026 attack in Kuwait, and hundreds of facilities were damaged. Additionally, the military has expended over 1,000 advanced air defense interceptors. Michael Ratney, a former diplomat, noted that "the war really highlighted the vulnerability... of American forces in the region."
Shifting forces westward to Jordan, Israel, or Saudi Arabia might ease the pressure. However, Iran has demonstrated the ability to strike distant targets as well, last month, four American service members were killed in Jordan. The Iranian attacks have caused considerable frustration among Gulf allies.
Alison Minor, former director of Arabian Peninsula affairs at the National Security Council, said "all of this needs to be discussed comprehensively and not just as a question of troop numbers alone." The Pentagon estimates the war's cost at approximately $37.5 billion through the end of September 2026.
That figure does not include base reconstruction costs, estimated at around $5 billion. Various advisors and think tanks have proposed closing bases within Iran's strike range or relocating forces to Israel, though there is disagreement within the administration regarding this idea due to intelligence concerns.
The proposal to move some American forces stationed in the Middle East onto Israeli territory has been raised by hawkish voices in Washington. Among other suggestions, a report by the pro-Israel research institute JINSA recommended transferring US military assets to Uvda Air Force Base in southern Israel.
During preparations for Operation "Epic Fury," Washington even deployed advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Uvda. This move was seen as another sign of deepening military and strategic ties between the United States and Israel during the regional fighting.
However, within the Trump administration there is deep internal disagreement about expanding permanent military presence on Israeli soil. Opponents of such a move within the administration raise security reservations and warn about the implications of an expanded deployment.
The central concern voiced by opposing officials relates to creating counterintelligence vulnerabilities. There is growing worry at the Pentagon about Israeli espionage activities, with fears that an extensive presence of American troops and equipment would expose sensitive intelligence information.
