The United States Navy has confirmed significant damage to its Naval Support Activity (NSA) base in Bahrain following a series of Iranian missile strikes earlier this year. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged the severity of the impact in a recent interview, stating that Iran "blew the hell out of Bahrain," referring specifically to the base, which serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Cao disclosed that a task force is currently evaluating the feasibility of repairing or restoring the facility, signaling uncertainty about the long-term viability of maintaining a U.S. military presence at NSA Bahrain. His remarks came after Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle indicated last week that U.S. personnel would not be returning to the base anytime soon. Responding to inquiries about when displaced service members might retrieve their belongings, Caudle reportedly said, “We’re not getting back in there anytime soon,” emphasizing caution regarding access.

The attacks on the Bahrain base occurred on February 28, following strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces targeting Tehran earlier that day. While the Pentagon initially downplayed the damage, asserting that there was no significant impact on military operations and no casualties, later reports suggested otherwise. According to multiple sources, Iran managed to hit the base’s command headquarters as well as at least a dozen other buildings, causing extensive destruction.

NSA Bahrain has been a key strategic installation for the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf, providing support and command functions for naval operations in the region. The disruption caused by the missile strikes and the ongoing assessment of the base’s condition highlight the heightened tension between the United States and Iran, as well as the potential operational challenges facing U.S. forces in the Middle East moving forward.