Tel Aviv: The US is considering moving some of its bases in the Gulf region to safer areas in the Middle East including Israel.
Over 20 US military locations in eight Middle Eastern nations have been hit by Iranian retaliatory strikes in response to US-Israeli hostilities. The US 5th Fleet’s home, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, and a number of Kuwaiti bases suffered the worst damage.
Instead of a full transfer from the Gulf to Israel, the present discussions centre on a partial move of some US Middle East military activities or stations westward, with Israel named as one potential destination.
After Iranian strikes inflicted significant damage, particularly in Bahrain, the United States is thinking about relocating some bases or command elements away from vulnerable Gulf sites. Additionally, it states that several American aircraft were already stationed at Ben Gurion throughout the conflict and that Israel is one of the choices being considered for certain assets.
According to Israeli sources, rather than a clean Gulf-to-Israel migration, the short-term option appears to be a selective redistribution: more fortified underground command, fewer exposed installations, and some assets moved among regional hubs. Put differently, the United States is more likely to change its stance than to give up on Israel in the Gulf.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
