Iran’s retaliation against U.S. and Israeli attacks didn’t just hit military targets; it paralyzed the Gulf in a way that was only imagined in doomsday scenarios. A sweeping drone and missile campaign against regional ports, chokepoints, and U.S. bases has severely disrupted global energy exports and left neighboring economies reeling. Critically, the strikes have accelerated simmering questions about the ultimate fate of America’s military footprint in the region.