Iran's claimed strikes on US ships in the Strait of Hormuz are raising pressure to pull American troops out of nearby bases — bad news for US forces left inside missile range.

• Iran says it hit two US ships, including an aircraft carrier, and has given specific details; the US denies it.
• Iran also says it captured an unmanned submersible in the Strait of Hormuz and is showing it off online, likely to copy the technology.
• The Pentagon calls the captured device commercial, not military, but what data it gathered is unclear.
• Bases in the region are now seen as pointless, since Operation Midnight Hammer showed US aircraft can reach Iran flying straight from the US.
• Leaving troops parked within Iran's reach is eroding trust between soldiers and their commanders.

Outlook: Pressure will grow to withdraw US forces from the region and give diplomacy room, while Iran keeps threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.