US Bases Eye Israel
US Eyes Israel for Gulf Base Relocation Following Extensive Iranian Attack Damage
Key Points
NSA Bahrain sustained extensive damage from Iranian attacks, including the Fifth Fleet headquarters, a barracks, several warehouses, and a potable water tank, with construction/repair costs estimated around $400 million.
Wall Street Journal reporting indicates more than 20 American military bases and diplomatic facilities across West Asia were attacked since the conflict began, highlighting the breadth of exposure beyond Bahrain.
Casualties from the Iran-related attacks include reports of 13 US service members killed and hundreds wounded, underscoring the human cost of the confrontations in the region.
Destruction of satellite communication terminals was noted, with two terminals destroyed valued at about $20 million each, illustrating additional equipment losses beyond fixed bases.
The Pentagon is weighing a major shift of its Middle East military posture — including moving some Gulf bases to Israel — after Iranian drones and missiles caused far more damage than publicly admitted. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Fifth Fleet headquarters at Naval Support Activity Bahrain is "no longer usable," with satellite imagery showing 12 or more buildings damaged or destroyed during strikes between February and June 2026.
The damage assessment at Bahrain alone carries an estimated $400 million repair bill, according to The Media Line. Two destroyed satellite communication terminals add another $40 million to the losses. More than 20 American military bases and diplomatic facilities across the region were hit in total, leaving 13 U.S. service members dead and hundreds wounded.
NSA Bahrain Hit Harder Than Pentagon Admitted
Iranian forces launched more than 8,000 missiles and drones at U.S. targets across the Gulf, per Türkiye Today. At NSA Bahrain — the only U.S. naval base in the country — the strikes destroyed the Fifth Fleet headquarters, a barracks, several warehouses, and a potable water tank. CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins defended the outcome, saying the military prioritized "protecting people over buildings" and noted that none of the roughly 8,000 incoming projectiles killed anyone at the Bahrain base itself.
But analysts say the official line understates the losses. Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told Times of Israel that the $400 million construction estimate is likely conservative. He said it is probably "dwarfed" by the loss of sensitive electronics and classified systems inside the destroyed buildings. The Department of Defense has not publicly confirmed all casualty and damage figures.
Israel Emerges as a Relocation Option for Gulf Forces
U.S. officials are now considering moving military assets from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to Israel, according to World Israel News. The appeal is straightforward: Israel sits outside the range of many Iranian short-range systems and sits behind more robust missile defenses. Officials are also weighing moving some command centers underground and spreading forces across more sites to reduce vulnerability.
The shift would carry political costs. Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are already seeing a U.S. drawdown, and a formal pivot to Israel could strain those relationships further, per IBTimes. Israeli officials, for their part, have expressed frustration with U.S.-Iran negotiations — specifically an agreement they were not part of — that left Hezbollah's presence unaddressed, according to The Media Line.
Congress Faces an $87.6 Billion War Bill
The Trump administration submitted an emergency spending request of $87.6 billion to Congress on June 24, 2026, to cover war costs, according to Al Jazeera. The package breaks down to $67.1 billion for the Pentagon — covering munitions, personnel, and base repairs — plus $11.1 billion for U.S. farmers hit by spiking fuel and fertilizer prices caused by Iranian interference in the Strait of Hormuz.
The bill faces real resistance. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 60% of American voters say the military action against Iran was "not worth it," per Middle East Eye. Senator Patty Murray called the request a "disastrous" attempt to fund an unauthorized conflict. The package also includes $1.4 billion for an Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and $12.1 billion for classified programs, which Democrats have specifically targeted.
How the War Started and Where It Stands
The conflict traces back to February 28, 2026, when the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury — nearly 900 sorties in 12 hours targeting Iranian leadership and nuclear sites, per Wikipedia. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening wave. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes across the Gulf that continued through June. A temporary truce took hold on April 8, but fighting resumed.
The U.S. struck more than 13,500 targets inside Iran during the campaign, according to Dainik Jagran. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has framed the results as a success, saying the strikes "massively degraded" Iran's nuclear and power-projection capabilities. But with bases damaged, billions needed for repairs, and a public that is skeptical, the administration faces growing pressure to define what victory actually looks like.
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