Wall Street Journal reports that this spring more than 100 U.S. aircraft planned
to launch from regional bases and ships for an operation to secure passage
through the Strait of Hormuz were curtailed after Saudi Arabia denied use of its
bases and airspace. U.S. officials say the Saudi refusal forced Washington to
suspend the freedom-of-action plan President Trump had just initiated; the White
House threatened to halt delivery of interceptors used to counter Iranian
missiles and drones. Saudi eventually relented, but U.S. officials said the
setback was hard to repair and Washington is now weighing a reduction of its
military presence in Saudi Arabia.
