Experts Say Iranian Strikes Crippled US Bases Across the Gulf

Overview

• Middle East experts say at least a dozen US military sites in the Gulf are so damaged by Iranian strikes that they now create more risk than benefit.
• The New York Times earlier described several facilities as all but uninhabitable, with verification hampered by tight controls on base access and strike imagery.
• Marc Lynch said Iran has rendered the physical setup of American primacy useless and argued a return of the US Fifth Fleet to Bahrain is unlikely because of vulnerability.
• Regional defenses and daily life have been strained, with depleted interceptor stocks, temporary airport and school closures, and strikes on energy facilities reported.
• Gulf leaders banned sharing missile videos during the fighting, and some analysts say shaken trust in US guarantees could push states to explore security ties with Israel.