U.S. officials consider reducing Middle East military and intelligence presence as Iran conflict continues

U.S. defense and intelligence officials are holding informal talks about scaling back the number of troops and installations in the Middle East if the Trump administration can bring the conflict with Iran to a close, six sources said. The discussions come as the region’s bases have been repeatedly struck by Iranian missiles and drones, killing 18 American service members and damaging several facilities, including a CIA outpost in Riyadh.

Current deployments still include about 50,000 troops, two aircraft carriers, and more than a dozen guided-missile destroyers. Some CIA officers who were withdrawn earlier this year are now being sent back, according to one source. The Pentagon is also reviewing options to harden remaining sites, such as moving certain installations underground to better withstand missile and drone attacks.

"The vulnerabilities were always known, but the US never acted on it with urgency," said a senior official involved in the deliberations.

The military has drafted several potential courses of action for a revised force structure that could be implemented as early as next year, though officials say abandoning strategic launch locations while the war continues would not be feasible. The Office of the Secretary of Defense has referred questions to U.S. Central Command, but both the Pentagon and the CIA declined to comment on specific plans for operational security reasons.

Historically, the U.S. footprint in the region expanded dramatically after the September 11 attacks, peaking at an estimated 250,000 personnel during the 2003 Iraq invasion and later stabilizing between 30,000 and 60,000 troops. Recent years have seen periodic drawdowns, but the ongoing Iran-U.S. confrontation has revived concerns about the vulnerability of permanent bases.

Pentagon comptroller Jules "Jay" Hurst III told reporters that the cost of repairing damaged facilities is still being assessed and that any decision on rebuilding will depend on the overall posture the United States decides to adopt in the region.

"Is there an implicit task? Is there something coming down the pike where we need to be prepared to go, or are we sitting [forward] just in case?" a senior official said, describing the uncertain strategic environment.

Analysts note that while the United States may retain some large, permanent bases, future reconstruction could hinge on host-nation contributions, as many installations were originally funded by the host countries. In the short term, U.S. forces and assets in neighboring states are expected to remain vulnerable to further Iranian attacks.