The outlet links the risk to damage at military facilities and depleted missile stocks after Iranian attacks; its assessment relies on sources and official reports.
The United States may struggle to restore its previous military presence in the Middle East after facilities were damaged during the conflict with Iran, The Intercept reported, citing sources. Kommersant carried the report. The outlet’s sources said the condition of the infrastructure had constrained US operations.
The Intercept said Iranian missile and drone attacks caused critical damage to Pentagon bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. It also reported damage to US Navy Fifth Fleet infrastructure in Bahrain and allied bases in Cyprus and Diego Garcia. CBS News published images of damaged US facilities in September.
The outlet reported that the United States withdrew 12 long-range B-1 bombers from the United Kingdom because of the risk of drone attacks. It also said the conflict had depleted US forces’ stocks of Patriot and THAAD missiles and disrupted Navy logistics.
Official reports cited in the article said more than 15 US facilities across the Middle East had been damaged, with 19 people killed and 900 wounded. The Associated Press has separately reported continuing Iran-linked threats to US military sites. The full set of assessments cited by The Intercept has not been independently corroborated in the materials available.