Pentagon weighs smaller Gulf footprint as Iran war winds down

The Pentagon is assessing its U.S. military footprint in the Middle East as the Iran war potentially winds down, including whether to rebuild strike-damaged bases and where troops might be relocated (with discussions about moving assets to safer locations like Jordan or Israel). The informal review, described by eight people familiar with the matter and not yet formal, reflects a broader debate over defense posture, whether to prioritize homeland defense, and the financial implications of base reconstruction.