Hundreds of U.S. sailors and their families were flown back to the United States after Iranian missiles and drones struck the U.S. base in Bahrain, NPR has learned. Officials say there have also been evacuations at other U.S. bases in the region, though specifics remain limited.
Bahrain hosts the Navy’s 5th Fleet, a key center for maritime security in the Middle East and protection of commercial shipping. The island lies about 124 nautical miles from Iran’s coast, putting it within range of Iranian drones and missiles.
About 8,000 personnel were assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain before U.S. strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28. The base was hit multiple times on the opening day of the conflict; social media footage and satellite images show a ballistic missile and Iranian drones striking the area, and imagery from Planet indicates at least seven buildings on and around the base were damaged between Feb. 28 and March 6.
A Navy spokesman told NPR that roughly 1,500 sailors, their families and several hundred pets were relocated from NSA Bahrain back to the United States. Many of the arrivals have come to Norfolk, Virginia, home of the world’s largest naval complex, since mid-March. Community groups and veterans organizations were asked to provide basic supplies because some evacuees arrived with very little.
Local veterans leaders described sailors arriving with only what they could carry. American Legion Post 327 in Norfolk collected toiletries and other necessities and hosted meals for returning service members. Volunteers reported that some sailors came with only a backpack and the clothes they were wearing.
The Navy has offered a range of support services, including crisis counseling, financial and legal assistance, relocation help, education resources and child and youth program coordination, according to Lt. Cmdr. Kara Handley. The USO has also been active in Norfolk assisting service members who arrived from various locations in the Middle East, said David Carrier of the national USO.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has distributed roughly $1 million to about 2,000 sailors and family members since evacuations began, the group’s chief operations officer, retired Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler, said. Those funds cover essentials and provide short-term loans to help families manage living expenses while they wait for government reimbursements, which can take months.
Pets complicated the evacuations. Initial guidance restricted moving animals, then changed; some pets were placed on different flights, and volunteers worked to collect carriers and supplies for animals in transit.
Service members ordered overseas typically do not maintain a U.S. residence ready for immediate return; the military requires them to designate a “safe haven” for emergency relocation. In practice, some sailors stayed with relatives while others remained on U.S. bases. In addition to Norfolk, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina served as arrival points for returning flights.
On April 1 the Navy issued updated guidance for evacuated sailors and families, clarifying reimbursement rules for hotel stays, including for families temporarily routed to Italy and Germany before transport to the United States. The Navy has not yet issued guidance on vehicles or household goods left behind at overseas housing or on if and when personnel will return to their Middle East posts.
Geoff Brumfiel contributed to this report.