Iran has attacked US baes in the Middle East following an attack on its nuclear sites on Sunday. Following the attacks, Iran announced it to target US base in the area in retaliation.
The following are the countries of the Middle East, where US bases are located.
Bahrain
Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) is home to the US Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet.
The deep-water port can America’s largest military vessels including aircraft carriers. Four anti-mine vessels, two logistical support ships and several US Coast Guard vessels have a home port in Bahrain.
Britain’s Royal Navy opened and operated the port during the 1920s, and the first US military presence was established when they joined World War 2. After the war it was recognised as a US Navy site.
Iraq
The US has a number of military bases in Iraq, including two air fields – the Al-Harir and Al Asad air bases – and dozens of camps and outposts. These bases were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militant groups after Israel’s invasion of Gaza in October 2023.
At the height of the US occupation of the country from 2003 until 2011, there were reportedly 170,000 US personnel stationed in 505 bases across the country.
In January 2024, the Iraqi government requested a start to negotiations on ending the US military presence in Iraq, as regional tensions grew due to the situation in Gaza.
Kuwait
Kuwait plays host to several US installations, including two air bases, alongside a number of other outposts.
Ali Al Salem Air Base is home to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, one of the main hubs for delivering combat support in the region.
Qatar
Qatar’s Al Udeid AIr Base is the largest of its kind in the region, according to the Reuters news agency. It includes components of Central Command (Centcom), and elements of its air forces and special operations forces in the Middle East.
The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which includes “airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets,” AFP reports.
Saudi Arabia
The Prince Sultan Air Base is a major site which hosted a large US presence during its war in Iraq, and from which the US air force still operates.
Elsewhere, the Eskan Village near Riyadh serves as a housing facility for US military personnel, largely those who are under training.
Egypt
The US does not hold any major combat bases in Egypt, but there are a number of military facilities stationed in the country.
Naval Medical Research Unit Three is based in Cairo, conducting research on infectious diseases and their prevention, and hosting the department of defense’s largest overseas laboratory.
Jordan
The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan was allocated for $143 million in upgrades and expansion in 2018.
It hosts military partners including Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, with two runways almost 10,000 feet long.
