Former U.S. officials and experts have indicated that restoring some American military installations in the Middle East damaged by Iranian strikes may not be feasible. Recent attacks have highlighted the vulnerability of large U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf to short-range missiles and drones, prompting Washington to relocate personnel and aircraft to sites in Israel, Jordan, and other countries farther from Iran.
“There is not much point in restoring some of these facilities,” said Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the U.S. National Security Council. “I would be very surprised if there was no shift to the west.”
The Pentagon has long been exploring a transition from large permanent bases to a more dispersed system of force deployment, which includes small outposts and temporary airfields. This strategy aims to make American infrastructure less vulnerable to targeted attacks.
In April, the American Enterprise Institute estimated that rebuilding 11 U.S. bases across seven Middle Eastern countries would cost approximately $5 billion. However, these expenses have not been factored into the Pentagon’s official calculations for the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Experts believe Washington can gradually reduce its reliance on Persian Gulf facilities and shift forces westward while ensuring regional allies do not perceive such changes as a breach of their security commitments.
