Israel set to invite US to relocate Middle East bases to Israel and establish new ones post-war

Israel's security establishment is preparing to invite the United States to relocate some of its Middle East bases to Israel and establish new ones in the country after the current war, Channel 12 reported citing unnamed security sources. The Israeli security establishment sees 'an opportunity to reshape the map of US military positioning in the Middle East,' the report said, given that US forces are already present and operating from Israeli territory during the war and in light of evolving security challenges in the region. An Israeli source quoted in the report said: 'We have proved our value of late as a central ally of the United States — one that provides not only stability, but also significant operational and intelligence capabilities. American bases in Israel would create a strategic advantage for both sides.' This would represent a transformative shift in the US force posture in the Middle East: currently the US maintains major bases in Qatar (Al Udeid), Kuwait (Ali Al Salem, Camp Arifjan), Bahrain (NSA Bahrain, 5th Fleet HQ), UAE (Al Dhafra), Saudi Arabia (Prince Sultan), and Jordan (several sites). Many of these have been struck by Iran during the current war. If Israel can position itself as a more secure and politically aligned alternative base location, it would dramatically alter the regional balance of power for decades post-war.