WASHINGTON/BAHRAIN: Newly released satellite images have revealed extensive damage to a major US naval base in Bahrain following Iranian missile and drone attacks during the recent Iran-Israel conflict, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report said the Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, was repeatedly targeted between late February and June.
An analysis based on satellite imagery, social media videos and interviews with current and former military personnel indicated that the attacks caused significant damage that has not been publicly acknowledged by the Pentagon.
According to the report, the strikes damaged the base’s command headquarters, at least a dozen buildings and two satellite communications facilities.
The US military maintained that no personnel were killed and that operations were not significantly disrupted. Most personnel were evacuated during or after the conflict, although a limited number remain stationed at the base.
US Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said protecting personnel had been prioritized over protecting infrastructure during the conflict. He added that Iran launched more than 8,000 missiles and drones, resulting in only two American fatalities, while the United States struck more than 13,500 targets in response.
The newspaper reported that the attacks on the Bahrain facility and at least 20 other US military and diplomatic installations across the Middle East have prompted Washington to reassess its military posture in the region.
US officials are reportedly considering rebuilding parts of the Bahrain base, reducing troop deployments in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and relocating some facilities or operations farther west to place them beyond the range of Iranian missiles and drones.
They are also evaluating moving command-and-control systems underground and dispersing military assets across multiple locations, although no final decisions have been made.
According to the report, the Pentagon has declined to provide Congress with a detailed assessment of the damage sustained during the conflict. While the overall cost of the war has been estimated at approximately $29 billion, that figure reportedly excludes damage to US military bases.
A think tank cited by the newspaper estimated the total cost of the conflict at around $40 billion, including $2.2 billion to $5.1 billion in damage to US military installations.
The Wall Street Journal estimated construction-related damage at the Bahrain naval base alone at approximately $400 million, excluding debris removal and other associated costs.
