Secret U.S. Moves in the Red Sea… Under Houthi Surveillance

NYN | Reports and analyses 

The United States is quietly intensifying its military presence in the Red Sea, with direct facilitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

American media has revealed that a remote U.S. facility near the Red Sea has been transformed into an active logistical hub — a development that signals rapidly shifting military dynamics in the region’s U.S. force deployment map.

In a detailed analysis, The New York Times reported that the base known as the “Logistics Support Area Jenkins” (L.S.A. Jenkins), which had remained largely dormant since its establishment, began expanding noticeably in early 2022. Activity at the base has since accelerated significantly in recent months.

From Obscurity to Operational Readiness

Located about 20 miles from Saudi Arabia’s western coast, the base has gradually shifted from inactivity to becoming a key point on the U.S. military support map — especially amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following mutual strikes, including on Iranian nuclear facilities and American bases in the Gulf.

According to the newspaper, Jenkins is poised to become a central node in U.S. logistical chains, enhancing the Pentagon’s ability to carry out military operations across multiple fronts, while staying beyond the reach of short-range Iranian missiles that threaten conventional U.S. bases.

Satellites Track, Pentagon Stays Silent

Satellite imagery analysis reveals rapid developments at the base, including new facility construction and infrastructure expansion. However, the Pentagon declined to comment on the military purpose of this activity or its relation to the recent escalation with Iran.

Analysts describe these moves as a calculated redeployment, aimed at repositioning forces in safer, more flexible locations for response and support operations.

Between Iran and Yemen… Fire Lines Converge

Brian Carter, Director of the Middle East Program at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that the goal of developing the base is to shield U.S. military infrastructure from direct Iranian threats while enabling support for missions against the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen. The geographical proximity to Yemen aligns with the threat posed by drones and missiles.

Although far from Iran, the base’s nearness to Yemen keeps it within potential range of attacks — especially as the U.S. repeatedly accuses Iran of backing the Houthi movement and providing it with the technology to target American assets in the Red Sea.

More Than Just a Base

Observers suggest that Jenkins is not merely a new military facility, but rather a symbol of a broader U.S. strategy aimed at dynamic force repositioning. This shift reflects the changing nature of regional threats and evolving priorities in deterrence and control.

As the region moves toward further escalation, the base appears increasingly central to a strategic pivot, reshaping the balance of U.S. military presence between the Gulf and the Red Sea.

Still, this American move in the Red Sea — however distant from active combat zones it may seem — is unlikely to go unnoticed by the Houthis (Ansar Allah), who have previously targeted U.S. warships in the region and continue to publicly monitor any American military activity.