The acting Secretary of the United States Navy, Hung Cao, has acknowledged that Iranian forces caused severe damage to a U.S. naval base in Bahrain as part of the war unleashed by the U.S.-Israeli offensive in February, stating that Iranian troops “completely destroyed” the facility.
“They completely destroyed it in Bahrain,” Cao said in an interview with ‘The Epoch Times’, referring to the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NASB), which serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) naval forces and the Fifth Fleet.
The base has been the target of several Iranian attacks within the conflict opened in the Middle East following the aforementioned offensive, as the base is one of the main logistical hubs for the United States in the region.
Cao, who did not provide details on the extent of the damage at the site, pointed out however that the Navy is considering what to do with the facilities, including the possibility of repairing it. “I have a team that is analyzing that,” he said in the interview.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, noted that Tehran “appreciates Cao’s frankness.” “Our powerful Armed Forces certainly completely destroyed the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, as well as other bases supporting U.S. aggression.”
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“The American people deserve better than to pay the bill for Israel’s wars,” the head of Iranian diplomacy said in a brief social media message in response to the article by ‘The Epoch Times’.
Cao’s statements come nearly two weeks after the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Daryl Caudle, emphasized that it would take some time for U.S. forces to return to the base due to the damage sustained. “I want to be completely honest about that,” he said.
The Iranian Army and Revolutionary Guard have claimed numerous attacks against these facilities and other U.S. interests in the Middle East as part of their response to the offensive, asserting that they have caused enormous material damage and casualties among the military, although Washington has provided few details about the losses suffered.
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