USA Considering Relocating Gulf Bases to Negev Desert in Southern Israel

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901210

CENTCOM considers relocating US bases from Gulf States to Negev after painful Iran strikes

One option is to establish a new base in the Negev big enough to hold the American army’s forces, or to expand one of the Negev’s air force bases and allocate an American compound there.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is considering moving its military bases’ operational systems in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to Israel in order to increase their distance from further Iranian missile and drone attacks.

The US Navy may revamp its base in Bahrain, which has suffered severe damage since late February. Bahrain has been home to the US Navy’s central forces in the Middle East for over 50 years.

One option is to establish a new base in the Negev big enough to hold the American army’s forces, or to expand one of the Negev’s air force bases and allocate an American compound there.

The US Department of Defense and the US Army also plan to renew their supply contracts with the Ministry of Defense and the IDF until 2030, and possibly further.

This idea for relocation follows Iran’s extensive damage to at least 20 US sites across the Middle East since the onset of the war, especially NSA Bahrain.

The US Army is hoping for less vulnerability in Gulf countries

It would take an estimated $400 million to rebuild what Iran destroyed at NSA Bahrain, excluding costs of debris removal, the rebuilding of two AN/GSC-52B satellite communication terminals and a communications management facility, and other relevant costs.

It is possible that destroyed structures will not be revamped, and command and control nodes may have to be moved underground.

The extensive damage “has the US re-evaluating its entire footprint in the region.”

Some of Israel’s security officials approve the establishment of American bases in Israel. “A permanent American presence in Israel will require an air defense envelope, and beyond that, it will strengthen the long-term relationship between the militaries and the administrations on the strategic level.” 

Moving forces further west offers US more access to future of Middle East

A long-term American presence in Israel gives the US better access to the US Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) at Kiryat Gat, and it can better monitor the ongoing operations in Gaza and the Middle East region.

In response to constraints on airport capacity, Maariv said USAF aircraft will be relocated from Ben-Gurion to Israel Air Force bases. Those IAF bases’ troops will move to other bases around Israel.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901210

                                             The Negev