The US Department of War has urgently and covertly begun implementing a new military plan to reduce air and offensive presence at forward US bases in the Middle East, Western sources reported yesterday (Monday) to “Erem News.”
According to the report, the plan—code-named “Defensive Arc”—includes withdrawing strategic aerial assets and relocating a portion of forces from bases adjacent to Iran to more distant, fortified hubs.
The move was revealed alongside US President Donald Trump’s surprising decision to cancel planned airstrikes against Iran. Following that decision, sources say the plan shifted its objective from pre-attack staging to a defensive structure designed to protect the US Air Force from a potential Iranian surprise attack.
According to intelligence assessments underpinning the plan, US command concluded that traditional deployment at forward bases had become a critical vulnerability against Iranian missiles and suicide drones.
Geographic proximity to Iran shortens early warning times for Patriot and THAAD defense systems to under two minutes. Consequently, officials decided to clear select runways and convert nearby bases primarily into ground defense perimeters meant to absorb initial strikes.
The report further reveals that following the canceled strikes, the US transitioned to an “over-the-horizon deterrence” strategy. Under this approach, conflict would be managed outside Iran’s direct line of fire, stationing long-range strategic bombers at fortified bases in Southern Europe while utilizing rapid-staging points in the Mediterranean.