Acting Navy Secretary Admits Iran Blew Hell Out Of Bahrain Base

Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao has publicly acknowledged that Iranian strikes caused extensive damage to the US Navy's primary Middle East base in Bahrain, a rare direct admission from a senior official about the scale of the destruction. In an interview published on September 10, 2026, Cao stated that Iranian forces "blew the hell out of" Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the headquarters for the US Fifth Fleet. The comment represents a significant departure from the broader administration narrative regarding the conflict's progress. Cao explained that the damage to the facility, located in Manama, prevented the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from entering for resupply, forcing the vessel to remain at sea for an extended period. Reports have indicated strained conditions and low morale among the carrier's crew as a result. The base serves as the Navy's main command, logistics, and maintenance hub for operations across the Gulf region. When asked whether the Navy would need to rebuild the facility to sustain its regional presence, Cao said, "I have a task force that's looking at that." He indicated that no final decision or timetable for restoration has been announced.