Washington Post: US reviews military deployment in the Middle East, considers withdrawal from the Persian Gulf

The US Department of Defense has begun reassessing how the US military presence in the Middle East is organized. Among the options under consideration is reducing the number of troops in the Persian Gulf, following the damage caused by Iranian attacks during the conflict.

The Washington Post, citing eight sources, including officials and people familiar with the matter, reports that the Pentagon is analyzing a significant reorganization of the US deployment in the region.

A possible reduction in US forces would present Washington’s allies in the Middle East with new challenges, as they would have less support from the US security guarantee in the face of Iranian threats.

According to two people familiar with the analysis, Iranian attacks have caused considerable damage to major US military bases in the region. This situation has given the Pentagon an opportunity to reassess its current model of presence in the Middle East.

The Pentagon has indicated that the bases may not be rebuilt in the same way as they were before the conflict. The costs of repairing the damage and rebuilding them could exceed $5 billion.

In addition to material damage, the US has lost six soldiers in an Iranian attack on a US base in Kuwait, while four other soldiers have been killed in Jordan. US forces have also used up a large portion of their reserves of missiles deployed by Patriot air defense systems and the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system.

The assessment process is being led by the Pentagon’s Office of Policy. The Washington Post writes that the issue is also being reviewed by the Joint Staff and US Central Command, CENTCOM, which oversees US operations in the Middle East.

However, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has not yet ordered the launch of a formal review of the US military presence in the region. The final decision is expected to be made by the highest levels of the US administration.

US Central Command typically maintains around 40,000 troops stationed at approximately 20 bases stretching from Oman to Jordan. The main concentration of US forces is in the countries of the Persian Gulf, including Bahrain, which is home to the Fifth Fleet’s headquarters, as well as Kuwait, where the US has military and air bases.