Russian Media: The Attack on the Fifth Fleet Base Leaves the Pentagon "Embarrassed"

According to a report by Reference News on March 24, the Russian weekly "Arguments and Facts" reported on March 21 that the situation in the Middle East has escalated to a new boiling point. As global media discusses the possibility of a large-scale conflict, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran launched an attack on key U.S. naval facilities in the region. Military analysts stated that although the attack did not completely destroy the fleet, the damage was sufficient to temporarily paralyze the operations of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in its area of responsibility.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran struck the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet with medium-range missiles using liquid and solid fuel.

Military expert Vasily Dandkin clarified the true scale of the attack in an interview, refuting speculation that the U.S. fleet had been completely defeated. The expert stated that the targets of the attack were not naval formations in international waters, but rather key infrastructure on land.

Dandkin said, "Iran did not destroy the Fifth Fleet; they targeted the base command of the Fifth Fleet. They launched a fierce attack on the facilities there. As far as I know, the fleet is stationed in Bahrain."

The choice of targets was not accidental. The Bahrain base is the central nervous system of the command; all U.S. operations in the region are directed from here.

Experts estimate that the main target of the attack was less the administrative building and more the logistical-technical base of the Fifth Fleet, aiming to destroy or damage ammunition depots and fuel storage.

Dandkin emphasized, "What was likely hit were the supplies stored there that the U.S. urgently needs. This attack forced the ships of the Fifth Fleet to pause operations for missile and fuel resupply, including aircraft carriers."

Even a temporary weakening of the Fifth Fleet could have serious consequences. The area of responsibility of this combat formation covers three key maritime routes on which global economic stability depends: the Suez Canal—the shortest route from Europe to Asia; the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; and the Strait of Hormuz—the most important oil transport corridor, through which about 20% of the world's oil demand passes.

The current situation has put the Pentagon in an awkward position. Striking supply bases is a typical Iranian "war of attrition" tactic, which can inflict damage on the enemy without crossing the "red line" of total war, that is, causing large-scale casualties.

For U.S. aircraft carriers stationed in the Persian Gulf region, losing the ability for rapid resupply close to the rear means they must retreat to a distance; otherwise, they will become vulnerable in the face of large-scale attacks from drones and anti-ship missiles. Experts unanimously agree that even if the infrastructure can be restored in the shortest time, the very fact that key NATO facilities in Bahrain were successfully struck indicates that the balance of power in the region is changing.

Currently, Washington officials have not commented on the losses at the base. However, Dandkin pointed out that the effects of this strike have already become apparent: the enemy's naval formations have temporarily lost their full operational capability, which will give the Iranian military an advantage in the coming days. (Translated by He Yingjun)