US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report

US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 19:14 Iranian missiles and drones have exposed the vulnerability of basing troops in Gulf states, current and former US officials say US military personnel participate in the 'best squad competition' at Buehring base camp in Udairi, in the northwestern region of Kuwait, on 10 May 2023 (Yasser al-Zayyat/AFP) Off The Trump administration is examining whether to pull troops out of the Gulf as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran , with the Pentagon weighing the risks facing large US bases in the region that have come under Iranian drone and missile attack. The evaluation is being led by the Department of War’s policy office, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, saying the war was viewed as “a once-in-a-generation chance for the Pentagon to reconsider its presence in the region”. The report said that the US has already signalled that it might not rebuild its bases attacked by Iran to pre-war status.