The Pentagon is studying whether the United States should reduce its military presence in the Persian Gulf after the Iran war ends.
The review is an early sign that the conflict could lead to major changes in how the US protects its forces and works with allies in the Middle East.
Eight people familiar with the matter said the Pentagon is looking at its military footprint in the region. Two people said officials are studying whether to pull troops back from the Gulf.
US bases in the Gulf have faced months of Iranian missile and drone attacks. The strikes have damaged or destroyed more than 200 US facilities during the war.
The Pentagon has not ordered a formal review of the US military posture in the region. A senior Pentagon official said the current work is part of careful planning. The study could later help officials decide how to rebuild damaged bases.
The Pentagon policy office is leading the work. The Joint Staff and US Central Command are also taking part.
The US normally has about 40,000 troops at nearly 20 sites across the Middle East. These sites stretch about 1,500 miles from Jordan to Oman.
Some of the largest US bases are in the Persian Gulf. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet. Kuwait also hosts US Army and Air Force forces.
The war has forced the US military to send more ships, fighter jets and air defense systems to the region. US forces have also carried out more than 13,000 strikes against Iran since early this year.
The fighting has shown how exposed some US bases can be. Before the war began in February, US Central Command moved many troops away from major bases. Officials feared that Iranian missiles and drones could hit the sites.
Some of those changes may remain after the war, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Six US service members were killed in a March attack on Port Shuaiba, a military site in Kuwait. The attack added to concerns about the safety of US forces based close to Iran.
The US has also used more than 1,000 advanced air defense interceptors during the conflict. The heavy use has reduced Pentagon stocks of Patriot and THAAD missiles.
Some former US officials say moving troops farther west could lower the risk. Possible locations include Jordan, Israel and the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.
But such a move would not remove the threat. Iran has shown that it can strike targets far from its borders. An Iranian attack in Jordan last month killed four US service members.
A smaller US force could also create problems for Gulf allies. Countries in the region have relied on US forces for decades to help protect them from threats.
A major US drawdown could push those countries to build stronger military forces of their own. They could also seek closer security ties with other powers. Such changes could take years.
The debate also reflects a wider split within the Trump administration. Some officials favor strong US military action abroad. Others want the Pentagon to focus more on protecting the US homeland and dealing with major rivals such as China.
The cost of the war is another concern. The Pentagon expects the conflict to cost about $37.5bn by the end of September. That figure does not include the full cost of rebuilding damaged bases.
A defense official told lawmakers in May that rebuilding costs were not included because the administration had not decided how it would rebuild the bases.
An April estimate from the American Enterprise Institute put the cost of repairing targeted US bases in the Middle East at about $5bn.
Some experts support a smaller US presence. They argue that bases close to Iran are too easy to attack. Others want the US to move more forces to Israel or other safer locations.
There is also concern over the risks of placing more US forces in Israel. Some Pentagon officials fear that a larger presence could create security and intelligence risks.
For now, no final decision has been made. Any lasting change would need approval from senior Trump administration officials.
The Pentagon’s review could shape US policy in the Middle East for years. It could also change how Washington protects its Gulf allies after the Iran war.
