Significant damage has been inflicted on U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf since the start of the war due to Iranian attacks, leading to part of the American forces being relocated to hotels and other civilian infrastructure, according to information cited by The New York Times.
According to military officials who spoke to the American newspaper, the extensive damage to U.S. bases has severely hindered the operational capacity of American forces in the region.
As reported, many facilities have become non-operational, forcing personnel to move to hotels and other available infrastructure, with military operations now being conducted under constrained conditions.
Iran’s Fars news agency reports that Tehran is expanding its “target bank,” despite de-escalation and negotiation efforts attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the report, new potential targets include logistics bases as well as luxury hotels in Syria and Lebanon, which are allegedly being used by foreign soldiers and advisors.
The message attributed to Tehran to the owners of such facilities is clear:
“Stop immediately hosting [military personnel], otherwise you will become a legitimate target.”
The report adds that many of the 13 military bases in the Gulf used by U.S. forces have suffered significant damage or have been put out of operation.
The most severe destruction is said to have occurred at bases in Kuwait, while facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia have also been hit.
At the start of the war, it is estimated that around 40,000 American troops were stationed in the wider region. Since then, a significant number have been relocated to Europe, while many others were forced to abandon their original bases due to the attacks.
Currently, part of the U.S. forces is staying and operating out of hotels and office buildings, carrying out operations under conditions resembling “remote” functioning.
Former U.S. special forces expert Wes J. Bryant told The New York Times that “it is possible to set up temporary operations centers, but there will certainly be a loss of capabilities.”
“You can’t place all that equipment on the roof of a hotel, for example. Some systems are extremely bulky.”
At the same time, Iran is reportedly attempting to target U.S. forces in their new locations as well. The Revolutionary Guards have called on civilians to report locations where American troops are present.
A related announcement states that “it is an Islamic duty to accurately report the locations where American terrorists are hiding and to pass this information to us via Telegram.”
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