US considering moving Gulf bases damaged by Iran to Israel

What Happened

The United States is considering relocating military assets from bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to Israel after Iranian retaliatory strikes caused extensive damage to Navy facilities, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing two officials. Between late February and June 2025, Iran repeatedly targeted the US Navy base in Bahrain, damaging command headquarters and at least a dozen buildings, though the Pentagon has not publicly acknowledged the scale of destruction. The strikes followed a joint US-Israeli offensive launched on 28 February by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to destroy Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. Separately, the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed with Iran established a 60-day ceasefire for negotiations, and a Quinnipiac University poll found 60% of American voters now consider the military action 'not worth it', with 61% believing Iran will still develop nuclear weapons.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The potential relocation signals a strategic reorientation of US force posture in the Gulf, elevating Israel as a primary regional hub and reflecting the operational costs of Iranian reprisals. The poll data and the Islamabad memorandum underscore waning domestic support for the campaign and growing doubts about achieving the stated goal of eliminating Iran's nuclear capability, potentially pressuring the Trump administration to accept negotiated outcomes.

Watch For

Confirmation or denial from the Pentagon on base damage and relocation plans; progress of US-Iran talks under the 60-day Islamabad MoU; any Congressional or public pushback as the 2026 midterm elections approach; further Iranian strikes or escalations in the Gulf.