Pentagon inspectors released a special report on the Iran war on Tuesday, which is the first official assessment by the U.S. Department of Defense of the damage inflicted on the country's military equipment and installations during the war.
Damage to U.S. Military Installations
The Pentagon Inspector General stated in this report, citing discussions with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), that "Iran's attacks caused damage and destruction to hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan" in the early months of the war. This report covers the period from February 28 to June 30 and also refers to the reduction of important U.S. ammunition stockpiles.
Read more: Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: Over 82,000 people displaced on the western shores
Impacts on Military and Diplomatic Operations
Iran's attacks on U.S. military installations have created significant changes in the way American forces operate in the region. CENTCOM has relocated "forces, assets, and storage facilities" due to Iran's attacks and its proxy forces. Some of these changes include the withdrawal of Army medical evacuation helicopters from Iraq and Kuwait, meaning that "most medical evacuations have been conducted overland to local medical facilities."
The destruction of the regional naval center in Bahrain, which was recently described as "severely damaged" by Hong Kao, the head of the Navy, has created significant challenges in establishing "naval bases and support ports." This has led to the remote island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean becoming a naval logistics hub, increasing resupply times to 14 to 18 days.
Intermittent shortages in supply and disruptions in the military postal system have increased the difficulties for American sailors during prolonged deployments in the Gulf to support airstrikes against Iran and, in recent months, the blockade of its ports.
Changes in the U.S. military presence in the Middle East may become permanent. Military and intelligence officials have informally discussed the possibility of a permanent reduction of U.S. forces and installations in the region after the war ends.
This report also covers U.S. diplomatic activities in the region and mentions damage to the country's diplomatic facilities in the Middle East valued at approximately $184 million.
Read more: Meeting of As'ad al-Shaybani and Hakan Fidan in Damascus; Emphasis on expanding cooperation · Return to peak: Dubai airport capacity reached 84% after the Iran war
