Iranian missiles heavily damaged US naval base in Bahrain, Wall Street Journal reports

Iranian missile strikes severely damaged the US air and naval base in Bahrain, rendering it unable to perform core functions, the Wall Street Journal reported. The strikes largely destroyed the Navy's command building, while training facilities, port infrastructure, barracks and storage sites were also seriously harmed, according to the newspaper. The Pentagon has not officially confirmed reports of extensive damage at the base, the Journal reported. Defense officials are weighing several options, including relocating some missions to other facilities in the Middle East. The base, located roughly 240 kilometers from Iran's coast, has hosted the US 5th Fleet since 1995, cost about $400 million to build, and is capable of accommodating ships from across the US Navy. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps announced during the conflict that it had targeted the Bahrain base and the 5th Fleet headquarters with ballistic missiles and drones. A congressional official told the New York Times that a Pentagon assessment presented to Congress estimated the cost of a single February 28 airstrike on the 5th Fleet headquarters at roughly $200 million. The full extent of damage from Iran's retaliatory strikes remains difficult to calculate, the Times reported.