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Acting Navy Secretary Says Iran 'Blew the Hell Out of' U.S. Base in Bahrain
Hung Cao’s remarks add a rare public acknowledgment of extensive damage to the Fifth Fleet headquarters, which officials say did not significantly disrupt operations.
On Thursday, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao admitted Iranian forces "blew the hell out of" the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet base in Bahrain, marking a rare senior official acknowledgment of extensive damage to the installation.
This admission contradicts the administration's narrative of total destruction regarding Iran's attack capabilities, though past reporting confirmed the base was "repeatedly targeted" during the conflict's early days.
Cao told The Epoch Times that the Iranian strike left American forces unable to "pull in" the USS Abraham Lincoln, which remained at sea for months due to the damage.
Analysts note a recurring pattern where the government initially denies strategic damage, only admitting it weeks or months later, while Pentagon officials previously declined to discuss the cost with Congress.
Debate continues regarding whether the U.S. should repair or abandon Middle East installations, and Cao confirmed a task force is currently evaluating the future of the damaged site.
Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed that Iranian attacks caused extensive damage to a base in Bahrain, affecting operations of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.