How much US bases in the Middle East matter and what they risk

American bases in the Middle East they are an essential asset for everyone military operation against Iran but at the same time they can also represent the weak point for the Pentagon, being within reach of the missiles from Tehran. In addition to the reinforcements sent in recent weeks, there are tens of thousands American soldiers located in important locations for years air bases, naval bases and training centers.

Based on what was revealed by Council of Foreign Relationsthe US forces they can count on 19 different sites, eight of which are considered permanent, throughout the Middle East. I US Marines they are found in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. In Türkiye and Djibouti, the United States maintains large military bases which serve several regional commands, but contribute to activities in the Middle East and are unlikely to be involved in a attack on Iran. An eventuality that the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is doing everything to avoid it.

Bahrain and Qatar: strategic bases

Il Bahrain hosts 9 thousand American soldiersand has been the basis of the US Navy Fifth Fleetresponsible for the Gulf, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and part of the Indian Ocean. There al-Udeid air base in Qatarin the desert on the outskirts of Doha, is the headquarters of the United States Central Commandalso known as Centcom. Centcom’s area of ​​responsibility not only includes the Middle East, but also parts of Central and South Asia. Al-Udeid is the largest American base in the region and hosts around 10 thousand soldiers.

Presence in Kuwait

In Kuwait is found Camp Arifjantactical (or advanced) headquarters of theUs Army Centrala military formation that serves as the land component of Centcom. Even the Ali al-Salem air baseknown as “The Rock” for its isolated setting, is located in Kuwait, along the border with Iraq. Another base in Kuwait is Camp Buehringwhich served as a clearinghouse for units headed to Iraq and Syria. In total, approx 13,500 US soldiers I’m stationed in the small country.

United Arab Emirates and Iraq

The United Arab Emirates they house 3,500 American militaryin addition to al-Dhafra air basea facility shared between Washington and the Emirates used during missions against the Islamic State groupas well as for reconnaissance missions in the region. There American presence in Iraqhowever, includes the Ain al-Asad air basein Anbar, a site that was hit by Iranian missiles after the assassination by the United States of Qassem SoleimaniIranian general shot at the beginning of 2020. In the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan is found there Erbil air baseformally used for training purposes and very close to the Iranian border.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Türkiye

Circa 2.700 American soldiers I’m stationed in Saudi Arabiain the Prince Sultan Air Basenear the capital Riyadh. The latter is an important air force hub that can count on Patriot missile batteries. Furthermore, the Muwaffaq Salti air base ad Azraq, in Jordanwhich hosts the 332nd US Expeditionary Air Wing and a contingent of 3,800 men, higher than that present in Iraq, where there are 2,500 marines and Syria, where however the 2,000 men are gradually abandoning the territory in recent days. Further north, in Türkiyethe main base operated jointly with Turkish forces is the Incirlik air basein the southern province of Adana. Based on available information, Incirlik hosts American nuclear warheads.

Evolution of naval presence and power projection

The number of thenOf troops e di US military equipment has changed in recent months and years based on regional priorities evolving. According to what has been announced by defense officials, there are currently approximately 40 thousand American soldiers in the Middle East. About a quarter of them are located at al-Udeid, in Qatarwhich hosts fighter planesthe Aerocists, in-flight refueling capability and resources of intelligence. The second largest base in terms of personnel is believed to be the naval base in Bahrain. At the beginning of Trump’s second term, several warships they left the region to support U.S. activities domestically and in other theaters. An inverse dynamic to what we have seen in recent weeks. The fulcrum of this power projection it is the unfolding of USS Abraham Lincoln, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with 5,680 crew members. His attack group comprehends guided missile destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class equipped with Tomahawk cruise missilescapable of striking deeply into the Iranian territory. A real one floating air base which can also count on several squadrons of fighter and attack aircraftaircraft for the electronic warfareradar jamming actions, helicopters and stealth fighter. The ship joins one naval deployment already present in the region, which includes the USS McFaul and the USS Mitscher in the Centcom area, and the USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea. Just as it arrived USS Gerald R. Fordthe largest warship to the world.

Naval and air reinforcements

As well as theUSS Delbert D. Blackand guided missile destroyersjoined the forces of Centcom. Second BBC Verifyat least 12 navi they were in Middle East. These included the Abraham Lincoln, three Arleigh Burke class destroyers, two destroyers with long range attack capability and three specialized combat ships stationed in Bahrain. Two other destroyers have been tracked near the Souda Bay base in Greece, and another in the Red Sea. The muscles of American power they don’t just show off in the water. Flight tracking systems show that aerei RC-135W Rivet Joint dell’US Air Forceaircraft specialized in monitoring of electronic emissions and in tracking radar and communications networksthey landed in Qatar in the last few days.