US weighs shrinking military footprint in Middle East after Iran batters bases – WaPo
The Pentagon is reassessing the scale of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, including whether to reduce forces in the Gulf after months of Iranian attacks damaged American bases, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The report, based on eight officials and people familiar with the discussions, said the destruction has created what some Pentagon officials see as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reconsider U.S. deployments rather than simply rebuild damaged bases. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Central Command are examining the issue, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ordered a formal force posture review. One official described the effort as “prudent planning” that could inform decisions on reconstruction.
One proposal would move some forces to Israel, though it has sparked disagreement over concerns about Israeli espionage.
The debate comes as Gulf states remain under threat. The UAE activated missile warnings Tuesday after detecting a threat, with alerts sounding in Dubai for the first time in about six weeks. The Defense Ministry said its forces remained prepared to protect the country.
Trump meanwhile posted what he presented as an annexation map of the Strait of Hormuz and later said no talks with Iran were underway or scheduled, the naval blockade remained in force, and the strait was “open and operating.” He said all mines had been removed or detonated.
Trump’s remarks contradicted Jared Kushner, who called contacts with elements of Iran’s regime the “best ever.” Iranian officials and the IRGC rejected that characterization, accusing Trump of promoting a fantasy born of defeat and desperation.
The Wall Street Journal reported about two weeks ago that the UAE had urged Trump to launch a broad attack on Iran, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan urged restraint. Trump reportedly considered strikes on Iranian facilities and infrastructure before deciding against them.
Israeli assessments have warned Iran could widen the confrontation if the blockade threatens regime stability. The blockade and disruption of Iran’s oil exports are increasing economic pressure as Washington combines financial and military pressure.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had shifted from defensive to “fully offensive,” warning of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and region if diplomacy fails. The official said Iran had given the U.S. several weeks to fully implement a memorandum of understanding reached between the sides.
The Pentagon’s reassessment therefore raises a broader question: whether damage to longstanding Gulf bases should prompt restoration of the old military architecture or create an opportunity for a smaller, different U.S. presence.
