Don’t Let Iran Kick Out U.S. Troops, but Move them to Israel

Following recent Iranian missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and commercial shipping, a JINSA Insight report argues that the U.S. should not withdraw military assets from the Middle East, despite a June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran that commits the U.S. to pull forces from Iran's "proximity." President Trump declared the MOU "over" on July 8, but the fate of the withdrawal requirement remains unclear. The report emphasizes that a bolstered U.S. force posture is crucial for deterrence, especially as Iran has not fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz. It recommends redeploying forces within the region, specifically suggesting a permanent U.S. presence at Ovda Air Base in Israel and a guided-missile destroyer homeported at Haifa, as Israel offers more defensible and productive basing options compared to vulnerable Gulf bases. The U.S. has already deployed F-22 stealth fighters to Ovda and reinforced missile defense systems in the Gulf, which intercepted over 90% of Iranian attacks.