U.S. Military Installations in the Middle East

WASHINGTON: The United States has thousands of service members stationed at bases throughout the Middle East, a region where U.S. forces have conducted numerous military operations over the past few decades.

Recently, Israel initiated an extensive air campaign against Iran, prompting President Donald Trump to consider whether the U.S. should support Israel in this conflict.

If the U.S. decides to intervene, it could lead to retaliatory actions by Tehran targeting American troops already facing threats from Iran-aligned groups amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Below, AFP provides an overview of the countries that host significant numbers of U.S. military personnel in the Middle East, which falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Bahrain

This small Gulf nation is home to a facility called Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command are located.

Bahrain’s deep-water port is capable of accommodating the largest American military ships, including aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy has operated from this base since 1948, originally established by the Royal Navy.

Numerous U.S. ships are stationed in Bahrain, including four mine countermeasure vessels and two logistical support ships, along with six fast response cutters from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Iraq

The United States maintains a military presence at various bases in Iraq, such as Al-Asad and Erbil. While the Iraqi government has close ties with Iran, it is also a strategic ally of the United States.

Approximately 2,500 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). Baghdad and Washington have established a timeline for gradually withdrawing coalition forces from the country.

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria have frequently come under attack from pro-Iran militants, prompting heavy retaliatory strikes on Iranian-associated targets.

Kuwait

Kuwait hosts several U.S. bases, including Camp Arifjan, which serves as the forward headquarters for the U.S. Army component of CENTCOM. The U.S. Army also has prepositioned equipment stationed in the country.

Ali al-Salem Air Base is home to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, acting as a crucial airlift hub for joint and coalition forces in the region. Additionally, the U.S. has deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones in Kuwait.

Qatar

Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar contains essential components of CENTCOM, along with its air and special operations forces in the area.

This base supports rotating combat aircraft and houses the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which provides resources for airlift, aerial refueling, intelligence, surveillance, and aeromedical evacuation.

Syria

For several years, the United States has maintained a military presence in Syria as part of international efforts aimed at combating the Islamic State, which emerged from the country’s civil war and seized large portions of territory in Syria and Iraq.

The Pentagon announced in April that it plans to roughly reduce its troop numbers in Syria to fewer than 1,000 as part of a consolidation process.

United Arab Emirates

At Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, the U.S. 380th Air Expeditionary Wing is stationed, consisting of ten aircraft squadrons, including MQ-9 Reapers.

This base also serves as a rotation point for combat aircraft and houses the Gulf Air Warfare Center, focusing on air and missile defense training.