The U.S. military is considering making Israel one of its main bases in the region, following the intense and successful cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli military over the past few years, particularly during the two wars against Iran, Israel Hayom reported.
Israeli security officials said the United States is also considering leaving a significant number of troops in Israel or even transferring troops from other Middle East bases. An Israeli security official said it is unclear whether the arrangement would involve air-defense batteries, fighter squadrons or other assets.
"It is not inconceivable that the US’s next base in the region will be in Israel," one official said.
Unlike Jordan, Syria, and several Gulf countries, the U.S. has traditionally not maintained a permanent troop presence in Israel. However, in recent years, American forces have been deployed there on extended rotations in several instances. This includes the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) near the Gaza Strip, reportedly at least two THAAD missile defensebatteries, as well as various components of the U.S. Air Force that took part in the war against Iran this year.
The report appears to contradict other recent accounts suggesting the U.S. was considering closing the CMCC, while also confirming statements by officers from both militaries about the unprecedented level of cooperation between them in recent conflicts.
According to Israel Hayom, the U.S. military is impressed by the IDF’s capabilities. American troops reportedly operated out of the IDF’s underground command center dubbed the “pit,” located under the Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, while senior Israeli Air Force officials witnessed the U.S. military’s modus operandi while visiting there during the war.
“There are American forces here that will not be moving in the near or even distant future. They have learned that Israel is a convenient fortress for operations, a country relatively far from the main threats and well protected by air defense systems,” a senior official said.
He noted that “unlike other [regional] countries that restrict takeoffs for offensive operations or impose various conditions, Israel has no such restrictions.”
Two weeks ago, Reuters reported that the CMCC in southern Israel, which was expected to coordinate the ceasefire with Hamas and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, was slated for closure by the Trump administration.
The Gaza Board of Peace (BoP) denied that the report was “wrong,” noting the HQ’s daily efforts “to continue delivering aid at a level unprecedented in modern history.”
“The CMCC has also played a critical role in advancing security. The ceasefire has continued to hold despite all the predictions from so-called experts. We now have a pathway to the establishment of a transitional government in Gaza and the International Stabilization Force,” the BoP posted on 𝕏.
Reuters cited seven diplomats who said CMCC operations would soon be transferred to a new international security mission, potentially reducing the U.S. military presence at the command center from around 190 troops to about 40.
Israel Hayom reported that activity in Kiryat Gat has been scaled back but that no final decision has been made about the CMCC's future. The ceasefire plan has reportedly been at a standstill due to the Hamas terror group's refusal to disarm, as well as reduced attention from Washington and Jerusalem amid the wider Iran conflict.
Israeli and American diplomats said some of the CMCC participants from the other 24 militaries have already returned to their countries. However, officials noted that “any claim of closure is incorrect” and that the center would continue to play a key role in the Gaza ceasefire.
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