The military balance in the Middle East: Desperate times for U.S. deployments and growing threats from Iran
Growing turmoil in the Middle East is ushering the U.S. military into a period of intensified engagement reminiscent of missions long past. This examines the deployment of us forces and their role in major war zones
American forces in Eastern Med
In the Eastern Med, which also abuts Israel and Lebanon, we have an amphibious assault ship as well as three guided missile destroyers. These forces were recently called upon to help Israel track and shoot down Iranian missiles. Further north, an aircraft carrier, the Harry S. Truman from Virginia headed to the region at the end of September.
U.S. Navy Red Sea Patrols
Similarly, in the Red Sea stand ready to halt attacks on civilian shipping for the most part being launched by the Houthi militia, which is backed by Iran and supports Hamas. Since then American ships have twice come under attack in the region leading to the Navy deploying extra guided-missile destroyers.
Gulf of Oman Operations
The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is now in the Gulf of Oman, off Iran’s southern coast. The carrier is accompanied by a strike group consisting of fighter jets and destroyers. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III ordered the Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East to provide extra military power in response.
American Troops US Military Bases MidEast
There are roughly 40,000 U.S. service members based in the Middle East. Key bases are located in:
QATAR: Home to the U.S. military’s largest air base in the region.
Bahrain and UAE But have major American military installations Hedges:
Al-Safaha/Somalia: Djibouti, an African country located on the other side of the Red Sea, adjacent to Yemen.
Kuwait: With around 13,500 troops, it serves as a base for U.S. forces in the region.
Around 2,500 U.S. troops are working to counter ISIS attacks and stabilize Iraq while another roughly 900 operate in Syria for the same purpose.
A Potentially Wider Conflict
A heavy year-long campaign of Israeli airstrikes and shelling across its northern border has stoked fears of a wider war with Israel, including Hezbollah ally Iran. When Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah who was Hezbollahs leader, Iran launched rockets on Israel in response to the killing and increasing the conflict. The U.S. is expected to become more heavily involved if the fighting escalates across borders, with a significant military presence in the region.
Aftermath: Increasing Tensions; U.S. Intervention
With the potential for war to spread in the Middle East, the U.S. military is poised for expanded operations. While the Pentagon continues to send additional troops and aircraft into the region, the outcome of what has now turned into an open-ended conflict is unclear.