Story perspectives
Iranian drones render Gulf bases “non-viable,” US weighs lighter footprint
9/9/2026
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Story summary
- US officials say Iranian drone attacks have rendered Gulf bases such as Al Udeid non-viable.
- Iran has launched roughly 10,000 drones in the six-month war, including faster jet-powered models.
- Iranian attacks destroyed the CIA outpost in Riyadh and damaged bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
- US officials are weighing a lighter footprint, deploying forces for missions rather than maintaining permanent bases.
