Al Udeid Air Base
Coverage of Al Udeid Air Base in the Nexus archive.
- How Iran attacks are forcing the Pentagon to rethink its decades-old Middle East base strategy
The Pentagon is reconsidering its long-standing strategy of relying on large, permanent U.S. military bases in the Gulf after Iranian missile and drone attacks during Operation Epic Fury exposed vulnerabilities. Defense officials are evaluating dispersing capabilities and rotating forces to reduce risk, while maintaining rapid response and regional security roles.
- How Iran attacks are forcing the Pentagon to rethink its decades-old Middle East base strategy
The Pentagon is reevaluating its long-standing strategy of relying on large, permanent U.S. military bases in the Gulf after Iranian missile and drone attacks exposed vulnerabilities. Defense officials are considering dispersing capabilities and using alternate command centers to reduce risks, though this could slow crisis response times. Key bases like Naval Support Activity Bahrain and Al Udeid Air Base were targeted during Operation Epic Fury, highlighting the strategic shift.
- US to form specialised ‘anti-drone force’
The US Air Force is establishing a specialized anti-drone force to defend military bases against missile and drone attacks, driven by vulnerabilities exposed in recent conflicts and incidents like Ukraine’s 2025 'Operation Spiderweb'. The initiative includes dedicated air base defense units and a $1.4 billion budget proposal for missile defense systems, though operational deployment remains uncertain.