Not to be confused with Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the US Navy’s regional HQ, which has also been hit and is located in the island nation’s north, Isa is situated in the south, and serves as a key US support facility for power projection throughout the region.
Air Base Location
~250km southwest of Iran’s coast directly across the Gulf
~585km from the Strait of Hormuz
~450km from Kuwait
Together with al Udeid in Qatar (US CENTCOM HQ), Al Dhafra in the UAE, Ali Al Salam and Ahmed Al Jaber in Kuwait, Isa is a critical backup node for the US military.
Thanks to its 3,800M long main runway and 3,678M long secondary runway, the base can accommodate aircraft of all sizes and designations, including:
1.
F-35 and F-22 fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, spy planes like US Navy P-8A maritime patrol craft and Triton drones, tankers, spec op assets, and heavy strategic transports.2.
the Royal Bahraini Air Force (consisting almost entirely of US-made aircraft including F-16s, Bell Viper and Cobra helicopter gunships, Blackhawk utility/transports, and C-130J Super Hercules turboprops). Bahrain, notably, is a US ‘major non-NATO ally’.