Iran war leave U.S. bases in Gulf facing uncertain future

NPR | By Aya Batrawy,

Tom Bowman

Published September 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM EDT

U.S. bases in the Gulf face an unclear future after being pounded in war with Iran.

Aya Batrawy

Aya Batraway is an NPR International Correspondent based in Dubai.

Tom Bowman

Tom Bowman is a NPR National Desk reporter covering the Pentagon.

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

Farmers fear more damage from U.S.-Canada trade fight

Kirk Siegler

The Trump administration's escalating trade war with one of the U.S.'s closest allies, Canada, is causing economic anxiety in rural border states like Montana, which counts Canada as its main export market.
NPR News

New report shows the economic toll of ICE raids

Jasmine Garsd

A new study shows the steep economic cost of 2025's ICE raids in Chicago. Fear kept many immigrants home, draining the area of more than $1.26 billion in lost retail, restaurant, and sales-tax revenue.
Pediatrician recounts experiences treating children with Ebola

Durrie Bouscaren

Pediatrician Rupa Narra of Doctors Without Borders talks about the challenges of treating children with Ebola, especially because their fatality rate is so high.
Thousands of NYC residents sickened by 9/11 fallout, trove of new documents show

Brian Mann

Officials blasted past NYC mayoral administrations, Republican and Democrat, for failing to disclose data showing toxic air quality in lower Manhattan after the 9/11 terror attack.
Georgia and South Carolina are working to eradicate an invasive, bee-eating hornet

Victoria Hansen

Georgia and South Carolina are trying to fight off an invasive bee-eating hornet that's been spreading along their coasts.