US Considers Reducing Military Presence in Persian Gulf Amid Iran Tensions

The Pentagon is reevaluating its military deployment in the Middle East, particularly the possibility of scaling back American forces in the Persian Gulf, according to eight sources cited by The Washington Post. This reassessment follows months of Iranian attacks that have severely damaged US bases in the region, signaling a potential shift in US military strategy amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not yet ordered an official review, but Pentagon officials describe the current efforts as "responsible planning" to help the administration decide how to rebuild the affected bases. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, is involved in discussions and reportedly supports exploring options to relocate forces westward from the Persian Gulf.

Among the alternatives under consideration are moving troops and equipment to Jordan, Israel, or Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. While such moves could alleviate some pressure, Pentagon officials acknowledge these are not perfect solutions, as Iran has demonstrated the capability to strike distant targets, including in Jordan and Israel. Notably, four US soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan last month.

Some hawkish voices in Washington advocate for increasing US military assets in Israel. A March report by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America recommended expanding the US presence at Israel’s Ovda Air Base. Ahead of Operation "Great Fury," the US deployed F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to the base. However, the Trump administration remains divided over this proposal due to concerns that a larger US footprint in Israel could increase vulnerabilities to espionage, amid growing Pentagon worries about Israeli intelligence activities.