US weighs Middle East troop cuts, underground facilities after Iran attacks expose bases

The ongoing Iran war may lead to a significant realignment of the United States' military presence in the Middle East, according to recent discussions among American military and intelligence officials, as reported by CNN. Months of Iranian missile and drone attacks have exposed vulnerabilities in a network of US bases and intelligence facilities that have been constructed over decades. As the conflict drags on into its sixth month, there are growing calls to reassess America's military footprint in the region.

Currently, there are approximately 50,000 US troops stationed in the Middle East, along with two aircraft carriers and more than a dozen guided-missile destroyers. However, these bases have proven to be targets during the war, with Iranian attacks causing significant damage in some cases. Notably, a CIA outpost in Riyadh was effectively destroyed in an Iranian attack, raising questions about the resilience of permanent installations.

These vulnerabilities have prompted the Pentagon to consider moving some installations underground to better protect forces from missile and drone attacks. The idea of underground facilities was previously considered, but the urgency to address the issue has increased following the recent attacks. The US military is also examining how to better protect the troops that remain, potentially shifting from permanent deployments to individual mission-based deployments.

The debate over the future of US military presence in the Middle East comes amid a broader shift in American foreign policy priorities. While the US has maintained a significant presence in the region since the 2003 Iraq invasion, with troop numbers ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 over the years, recent crises have prompted a reevaluation of the strategic importance of these commitments.

Host countries may also be asked to contribute to the cost of rebuilding damaged or destroyed installations, as the eventual repair bill remains unclear.