US Military base in Middle East: Iran is blaming the United States for joining Israel in attacking its nuclear facilities. On Sunday morning, the US dropped powerful bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, which quickly led to strong anger and reaction from Tehran. On Monday, Iran’s government called out President Donald Trump and said he acted like a “gambler” by backing Israel’s military campaign.
A senior Iranian official told CNN that the US should “directly pay for the war, rather than standing behind Israel and pursue its project without having to pay the cost.” reported CNN
Since Israel first struck Iran eleven days ago, both sides have been launching attacks on each other every day. Hundreds of lives have been lost in the ongoing violence. Iran says its people are demanding action against Israel now more than ever. A big protest happened in Tehran where people shouted for revenge against both Israel and the US. One Iranian official said the people’s calls for a strike on Israel are “an element in intensifying Iran’s battle plans.”
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US Military base in Middle East
If Iran decides to strike back, it may not only go after Israel but could also target American military bases in the region. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in July 2024, the US military runs or controls 128 bases in more than 50 countries. Out of these, at least eight persistent bases and 11 additional sites are in the Middle East.
These are operated by CENTCOM, the US military’s Central Command, which handles missions from Egypt to Kazakhstan. CENTCOM’s main command is in Florida, but its forward base is at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
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Qatar
In Qatar, the US has about 10,000 personnel at Al Udeid Air Base, which is used for major operations including air refueling and surveillance. Qatar has helped build and maintain this base by contributing over $8 billion since 2003. It also hosts advanced radar and missile defense systems. Another site in Qatar, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used for helping Afghans looking to resettle.
Bahrai
In Bahrain, the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet operates from a base that dates back to 1948. This base supports aircraft carriers and big Navy ships and also hosts aircraft for surveillance and intelligence work. Around 9,000 US military members and staff are based there.
Kuwai
Kuwait is home to Camp Arifjan, where US Army Central runs its operations. The Ali al-Salem Air Base plays a key role in air missions, and Camp Buehring is used to send troops into Iraq and Syria. Kuwait also supports the largest US air logistics center in the area.
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UAE
In the UAE, the Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi hosts US drones, early warning aircraft, and fighter jets. The base is shared with the UAE’s own air force and is important for regional training and combat missions. US Navy ships also dock in UAE ports like Jebel Ali in Dubai.
Iraq
In Iraq, American forces are spread out across locations like Al-Asad and Erbil air bases. These bases help train Iraqi forces and support missions against Islamic State fighters. Even though the main US mission in Iraq ended in 2011, troops came back to fight ISIS and still remain there. The Al-Asad base was also hit by Iranian missiles in 2020 after the US killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Air Base hosts 2,200 US military members. The base has missile defense systems and tanker aircraft and helps with deployments. The US has around 2,300 military personnel stationed across the kingdom.
Other countries
Other countries also have a US military presence. In Egypt, US troops are part of a peacekeeping force supporting the Egypt-Israel treaty. Syria has US forces in Al Tanf and other areas in the northeast, although the number is expected to be reduced soon. Jordan has thousands of US personnel at bases like Muwaffaq al Salti and Tower 22, used for air operations and border support.
While the US doesn’t have bases in Israel, it works closely with Israeli forces through regular joint exercises. In Yemen, a few US military members are still conducting missions against terror groups like al-Qaida and ISIS.
