Washington sets up base in Saudi Arabia near Red Sea to counter Iran, according to NYT

BEIRUT — First detected in 2022 via satellite imagery, the American Logistical Support Area (LSA) Jenkins has steadily grown near the Red Sea coast, about 30 kilometers from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest port after Jeddah, The New York Times reported. The expansion of the base, according to the paper, signals preparation for a potentially prolonged conflict with Iran.As of December 2023, the site still consisted of little more than tents, empty containers, scattered barbed wire and a few paved areas surrounding abandoned bunkers, remnants of its early development two years prior. However, U.S. government contracting records from 2023 show more than $3 million allocated for supplies, vehicles, and tent infrastructure for both operations and personnel, the Times reported. Videos posted to social media in January 2025 appear to show...