Is US Withdrawing Its Troops From West Asia? The Washington Post Exclusive
Washington: The Pentagon has initiated a comprehensive evaluation of its military footprint across West Asia, marking an early signal that the ongoing conflict with Iran could fundamentally transform America’s long-standing presence in the region, according to eight people familiar with the matter, including senior officials, reports The Washington Post.
A primary focus for the US Defense Department, as per the report, is assessing whether to pull troops back from the Persian Gulf, where expansive American installations have endured months of relentless Iranian missile and drone strikes. The unprecedented scale of destruction has presented the Pentagon with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconsider its strategic posture, with defense officials signaling that damaged facilities will almost certainly not be reconstructed in their pre-war form.
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew loads cargo at an airfield in the West Asia
For regional observers, the assessment is clear evidence of a setback, signaling what many regard as a visible US strategic defeat in the conflict.
The sensitive analysis is being spearheaded by the Pentagon’s policy office, with inputs from the Joint Staff and US Central Command (CENTCOM), reports The Post. Whilst Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not yet issued a formal order for a region-wide review, senior officials characterise the work as “prudent planning” intended to guide decisions on rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
CENTCOM traditionally oversees approximately 40,000 personnel spread across nearly 20 sites spanning a 1,500-mile arc from Jordan to Oman. Since the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, Washington has deployed additional naval fleets, fighter squadrons, and air defense systems to execute over 13,000 strikes against Iran. However, the concentration of forces in the Persian Gulf—such as the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and major logistics hubs in Kuwait—has left personnel acutely exposed.
U.S. Sailors and Marines conduct maintenance on a MH-60S Sea Hawk on the flight deck of USS Boxer (LHD 4) while deployed to the West Asia
Over 200 US facilities have been damaged or destroyed during the fighting, including a devastating March strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait that killed six American service members. Prior to the war’s onset, CENTCOM evacuated numerous bases deemed overly vulnerable, with several posture adjustments expected to remain permanent. Officials have noted that commanders are actively repositioning assets away from predictable locations, considering shifts further west toward Jordan, Israel, or Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
The conflict has levied a staggering economic burden on Washington, consuming resources at a rate that threatens broader military readiness. The Pentagon publicly estimates the direct operational cost of the war will hit USD 37.5 billion by the end of September. Crucially, this sum excludes the massive capital required to restore demolished infrastructure.
A U.S. Sailor directs an F-35B fighter jet on the flight deck of USS Boxer (LHD 4).
Independent assessments underscore the fiscal toll. The American Enterprise Institute estimated in April that repairing targeted bases alone would cost at least USD 5 billion. Furthermore, the US military has expended more than 1,000 advanced air-defense interceptors to protect its positions—significantly draining national stockpiles of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles.
These figures do not account for the broader economic disruption across Asia and global energy markets caused by prolonged instability in the Persian Gulf.
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter prepares to land in the West Asia. The Chinook is a tandem-rotor aircraft designed to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies in a variety of environments.
Beyond the monetary expenditure, the enduring campaign against Iran has dealt a serious blow to US diplomatic standing and image across Asia. Regional allies in the Gulf, long reliant on the American security umbrella, have expressed sharp frustration over what they view as a lack of consultation by the Trump administration prior to launching Operation Epic Fury.
The perceived fragility of heavily fortified US installations has damaged Washington’s reputation as an impenetrable security partner. Gulf states now face the prospect of a reduced American footprint, forcing them to contemplate costly domestic defense investments or turn toward alternative global powers to bridge the security deficit.
A U.S. sailor stands watch in the combat information center aboard USS Mason (DDG 87) as the guided-missile destroyer sails in regional waters supporting the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Simultaneously, the strategic distraction in West Asia has severely compromised Washington’s wider foreign policy narrative in the Asia-Pacific. For years, the Pentagon has emphasised a strategic shift toward containing rival powers like China. However, the massive absorption of critical defense assets, precision munitions, and high-level command focus in West Asia has reignited skepticism among Indo-Pacific partners regarding America’s ability to maintain a reliable, long-term balance of power in Asia.
Inside the administration, the Pentagon’s internal debate has intensified between factions advocating for continued regional intervention and restraint-minded analysts calling for a retreat to protect the US homeland and prioritise deterrence in Asia.
