The U.S. Navy base in Bahrain suffered substantial damage from Iranian strikes. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed significant damage to the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, raising concerns about American capabilities in the Middle East. Initial Pentagon statements on February 28 downplayed the impact on military operations. However, Cao later described the situation starkly, saying, ‘they blew the hell out of Bahrain.’
Cao’s comments to The Epoch Times marked a rare high-level acknowledgment of the situation.
When asked for a comment, the Pentagon told Newsweek: ‘As a matter of practice, we do not comment on intelligence-related matters.’ Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett emphasized the challenge of returning to full operational capacity in Bahrain.
Timeline of the Attacks
On February 28, joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran led to Iranian retaliation against Bahrain’s capital, Manama. The Juffair district, where the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, faced direct hits. Cao was the first official to acknowledge the attacks’ full impact, which damaged key logistics and support facilities.
Reports from The Wall Street Journal highlighted extensive damage visible through satellite imagery and service member accounts—damage not immediately acknowledged by the Pentagon.
Professor Robert Murrett from Syracuse University discussed Bahrain’s strategic importance for naval operations, noting Iran’s deliberate strategy of targeting U.S. bases in the region.
Iran’s Response
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reacted to Cao’s remarks on social media, boasting about the strikes’ impact. He claimed extensive damage to the U.S. bases countering American aggression, criticising U.S. military spending related to Israeli conflicts.
Impact on U.S. Operations
The NSA Bahrain base is vital as the main logistics hub in the Gulf. Damage raises questions about continued functionality. In a June town hall, Admiral Daryl Caudle admitted a lengthy recovery process.
Retired Navy Captain John Cordle wrote about the severe tactical and strategic repercussions. Damages necessitate moving supply hubs far away, complicating maritime operations.
Hung Cao stated a task force is examining the need for repairs at NSA Bahrain. The damage has already affected USS Abraham Lincoln operations, with deployment extensions causing crew welfare concerns.
Challenges for Military Operations
Admiral Murrett acknowledged logistic challenges, evidenced by USS Abraham Lincoln’s logistic complications. He noted that despite these challenges, operational effectiveness could be maintained, though under increased difficulty.
Other U.S. Bases Affected
The Iran conflict forced U.S. Central Command to disseminate troops across the region. By late March, at least 11 American bases faced damage, although not all attacks were confirmed by the Pentagon.
The Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait also experienced significant attacks causing structural damage and losses.
In Jordan, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported strikes on Al-Azraq base, affecting areas housing fighter jets. These attacks add to the mounting challenges faced by U.S. forces in the region.
For detailed insights, Federica Bindi and Tony Phillips are the contact points at Newsweek regarding this story.