Hegseth Accused of Hiding Damage to Key Bahrain Base as 5,000 Lincoln Crew Face Strain
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Aug 19
Hegseth Accused of Hiding Damage to Key Bahrain Base as 5,000 Lincoln Crew Face Strain
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Aug 19
Summary
MS Now's David Rohde said Pete Hegseth concealed that Iranian strikes destroyed much of Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the main U.S. Gulf resupply hub, worsening support problems for USS Abraham Lincoln.
Satellite imagery cited by The Wall Street Journal showed damage in June to headquarters buildings and two satellite communications terminals at the Bahrain site, though Rohde's claim that Hegseth hid the damage remains unsubstantiated.
2,200 miles now separate the Pentagon's fallback supply hub on Diego Garcia from carrier groups in the Gulf of Oman, a shift The New York Times said also eliminated a liberty port for Lincoln's sailors.
More than 260 consecutive days at sea have fueled Democratic criticism and family complaints over shortages, long work schedules and self-harm risks among the carrier's roughly 5,000 personnel.
The dispute lands as Trump dismisses morale concerns and says USS George Washington is replacing Lincoln, while the Navy separately disclosed USS Benfold lost power for 4 days in the Pacific.