Acting Navy Secretary Says Iran 'Blew the Hell Out of' US Base in Bahrain

WASHINGTON — Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has acknowledged that Iran "blew the hell out of" a U.S. naval base in Bahrain during a missile and drone attack, marking a rare public admission of significant damage to American military infrastructure in the ongoing conflict.

Cao made the remark during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, responding to a senator's question about the state of U.S. force protection in the Gulf region.

"The Iranians blew the hell out of our base in Bahrain," Cao said. "And we're going to make sure that doesn't happen again."

The comment, captured on video and circulated widely on social media, appeared to catch some lawmakers off guard. It was one of the most candid assessments of the war's toll on U.S. assets since hostilities began earlier this year.

The Attack on Bahrain

The U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet and thousands of American personnel, has been targeted multiple times by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones in recent months. According to reports, the most recent attack caused significant damage to infrastructure and forced the temporary relocation of personnel.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the base's air defenses intercepted "most" of the incoming projectiles but that "some got through."

The Pentagon has not publicly confirmed the extent of the damage.

Cao's remark came during a hearing focused on the Navy's budget and readiness posture. He was testifying alongside other senior defense officials when asked about the effectiveness of U.S. force protection measures in the region.

The acting secretary's blunt assessment marked a break from the administration's typically more upbeat public messaging on the war. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the conflict is going "very well" and predicted it would end "immediately after" the November midterms.

Cao's Testimony

Cao, a Navy veteran and former Republican congressional candidate, has served as acting Navy secretary since April 2026. He was nominated by Trump for the permanent position earlier this month.

During his testimony, Cao also addressed the Navy's broader challenges, including shipbuilding delays, maintenance backlogs, and recruitment shortfalls. He reiterated his commitment to improving the fleet's readiness and accountability in contracting.

But it was his comment about Bahrain that dominated headlines.

The Bottom Line