CENTCOM considers relocating US bases from Gulf states to ‘Israel’: WSJ
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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) is evaluating options to move its military assets from vulnerable positions in Gulf states to ‘Israel’s’ Negev desert, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
This strategic reassessment follows repeated Iranian missile and drone strikes that have inflicted substantial damage on American installations across the region during the war earlier this year.
Iranian attacks have targeted US facilities in countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, damaging at least 20 sites.
Key locations such as the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain sustained heavy impacts, with costs estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Satellite imagery and analyses indicate destruction to hangars, barracks, radar systems, communications equipment, and other infrastructure, far exceeding initial public assessments.
The proposed relocation aims to position US forces beyond the primary reach of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones while leveraging ‘Israel’s’ advanced air defense systems, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow, as well as US-supported assets like THAAD and Patriot batteries.
Options under consideration include constructing a new, large-scale base in the Negev capable of accommodating substantial US Army and air assets, or expanding an existing ‘Israeli’ Air Force base in the region to incorporate a dedicated American compound.
These plans build on pre-existing, limited US military infrastructure in the Negev, such as radar facilities.
Former CENTCOM commanders, including Gen. Frank McKenzie, have advocated for enhanced US positioning in Israel, citing its strategic depth, robust defenses, and logistical compatibility with American platforms like the F-35.
