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The United States is considering reducing its military and intelligence presence and the number of facilities in West Asia if it succeeds in its war with Iran, with military and intelligence agencies holding internal discussions on the issue, CNN reported Tuesday.
Citing at least six current and former US military and intelligence officials, the report said the move would mark a major strategic shift for the US national security establishment, reflecting a long-standing desire to reduce its footprint in the region.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US built an extensive network of military and intelligence facilities across countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Yemen and Libya.
However, recent Iranian attacks have exposed significant vulnerabilities in US infrastructure across the region. At least 18 US service members have been killed in the attacks so far, according to the report.
CNN said military and intelligence officials involved in informal discussions believe President Donald Trump can be unpredictable and are trying to anticipate his next move, as he has yet to present a clear strategy for the post-war period. Trump has previously built part of his political platform around reducing the US military presence overseas.
The discussions come as the US still maintains a major military presence in West Asia, with around 50,000 troops, two aircraft carriers and more than a dozen destroyers deployed in the region.
According to one source, CIA officers who were brought back to the United States during the most intense phase of the Iran war earlier this year are now being redeployed to the region.
The US military is also assessing how to strengthen defences for troops who remain in the region after the war. One option under consideration is moving some military centres and facilities underground to provide greater protection against missile and drone attacks.
The Pentagon has discussed relocating some facilities underground for years. However, Iran’s drone and missile attacks during the early weeks of the war have once again highlighted the vulnerability of US bases, prompting renewed discussions over troop protection.
A US government official told CNN that the vulnerabilities had been known for some time, but the United States had never treated them as an urgent issue requiring action.
CNN reported that the US military has developed several possible plans for restructuring its military posture in West Asia as early as the beginning of next year. However, officials acknowledge that abandoning strategic bases used for air operations during the war would not be practical while hostilities continue.
The US Department of Defense referred CNN to US Central Command for questions about the matter. CENTCOM did not respond before the report was published, while the CIA declined to comment.