US Investigation: Over $400 Million in Damages to the Fifth Fleet Base in Bahrain

SadaNews - An investigation by the American Wall Street Journal revealed on Friday that the damage inflicted on the US Navy base in Bahrain due to Iranian attacks between late February and June is much greater than previously reported.

According to the investigation, the Fifth Fleet command, satellite communication facilities, warehouses, and residential buildings were damaged, some of which are no longer usable.

The investigation indicated that the estimated cost of reconstruction is around $400 million, but the total cost is expected to be much higher.

US bases in Gulf countries have been subjected to a series of Iranian attacks during the recent war between the two countries.

The US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain is considered a comprehensive command hub for warfare, intelligence, cyber operations, space surveillance, political engineering, and cross-border logistical coordination.

Iran views it as the focal point that encompasses nearly 75% of US operational capacity in the Middle East.

The fleet's operational range extends over approximately 6.5 million square kilometers, covering the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean, effectively overseeing 21 countries and three strategic chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal.

Through these corridors passes the majority of global oil and gas trade, and controlling them means possessing the ability to protect or disrupt energy supply chains, making the fleet a cornerstone of Western energy security.