The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with the first apparent strike occurring near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke was seen rising from the capital. President Donald Trump announced in a social media video that the US had begun 'major combat operations in Iran', alleging that Iran continues to develop its nuclear programme and plans to build missiles capable of reaching the US.
In response, here is a mapping of significant US military facilities in the Middle East. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters is based in Bahrain, overseeing operations in the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, covering 24 hectares, serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and houses around 10,000 troops, making it the largest US base in the region.
Kuwait hosts several installations, including Camp Arifjan, the forward headquarters of US Army Central, and Ali Al Salem Air Base, known as 'The Rock'. Camp Buehring, established during the 2003 Iraq War, is a staging post for units deploying into Iraq and Syria. In the UAE, Al Dhafra Air Base south of Abu Dhabi is a critical hub for US Air Force missions against the Islamic State and reconnaissance deployments. Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, while not a formal base, is the US Navy's largest port of call in the Middle East.
In Iraq, Ain Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province supports Iraqi security forces and the NATO mission, and was targeted by Iranian missiles in 2020. Erbil Air Base in the Kurdistan Region serves as a hub for training and logistics. Saudi Arabia hosts 2,321 US soldiers as of 2024, including at Prince Sultan Air Base, which supports Patriot and THAAD systems. Jordan's Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base hosts the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing for missions across the Levant.
