US weighing drawdown of military footprint in Gulf after Iran war

WASHINGTON, United States — The Pentagon is reviewing whether to reduce the U.S. military presence in the Gulf following the end of the war with Iran, according to the Washington Post, which cited eight officials and people familiar with the discussions. The review is focusing in part on whether to rebuild bases that sustained heavy damage during Iranian attacks, the Post reported. The Pentagon's Policy Office, the Joint Staff and U.S. Central Command are all taking part in the assessment. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not yet ordered a formal post-deployment review, with the ongoing talks described as part of routine planning. Central Command stations roughly 40,000 troops across about 20 bases spanning around 1,500 miles from Jordan to Oman. Bahrain hosts the U.S. 5th Fleet, while Kuwait and other Gulf states host Army and Air Force units. The Pentagon has already decided to withdraw from certain bases deemed exposed to Iranian missile and drone strikes before the war, a posture that could continue after the conflict. Officials are also weighing options to shift forces westward to Jordan, Israel or coastal Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, the Post reported, citing Central Command chief Admiral Bradley Cooper, who is said to support the reassessment.