IranTension between Iran and America has reached its peak. It is feared that America may launch a military attack on Iran at any time. This is the reason why countries around the world including India have asked their citizens to leave Iran immediately. US President Donald Trump further increased this tension when he called on the protesters in Iran to intensify their movement and said that help is arriving. Meanwhile, Iran has threatened that if America attacks, it will not keep quiet and will launch a pre-emptive attack on American military bases located in the Middle East. Perhaps this is the reason why America has decided to withdraw troops and personnel from its military bases located in the Middle East. In view of the fears of American attacks, Iran has warned many countries of the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey that if America attacks, it will target American military bases located in their countries.
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US military bases around the world: where, why and how important?
There are two types of US military bases around the world. The first is the air base, where fighter aircraft are kept and operated from there, and the second is the naval base, where warships and naval ships are stationed. As of July 2024, the US has at least 128 military bases in other countries. The largest foreign base among these is Camp Humphreys in South Korea, which is considered to be America’s largest overseas base in terms of area. According to a report by Brown University’s Watson Institute, between 19 and 30 million American soldiers served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars since 2001, with more than half of these soldiers being sent to these war zones more than once.
Where are the American military bases in the Middle East?
America has military bases in about half a dozen Muslim countries of the Middle East. These include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Türkiye, Iraq and Jordan. These US military bases maintain the balance of power in the Middle East and West Asia. Play an important role in anti-terrorism operations and maintain strategic pressure on countries like Iran, Russia and China. According to a report, America has a total of 19 military bases in the Middle East. About 40 to 50 thousand soldiers are deployed at each of these military bases. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain. The fleet maintains naval security and military operations in the Gulf regions, especially in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This fleet is considered very important in maritime defence.
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There is Al Udeid Air Base near Doha, the capital of Qatar, which is spread over an area of 24 hectares in the desert. It is located on the banks of the Persian Gulf at a distance of about 190 KM from Iran. About 10,000 American soldiers are stationed here. It is the headquarters of the American Central Command. The command handles US military operations in a large area from Egypt to Kazakhstan. Last year, when America attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, Iran targeted American military bases in Qatar. Because of this, Qatar is already alert and is pressurizing America not to attack. Kuwait: There are many American military bases in Kuwait. Camp Arifjan is the headquarters of the US Army Central Command. There is also Ali Al Salem Air Base, which is located in isolated and difficult terrain, 40 km from the Iraq border. There is also Camp Buehring military base in Kuwait. This base was built during the 2003 Iraq War. It is a transit base for troops being sent to Iraq and Syria.
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United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, has Al Dhafra Air Base, which is in partnership with the UAE Air Force and from where ISR and drone operations are conducted. This base has played an important role in operations against ISIS and regional surveillance. Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port is not a formal base but is the US Navy’s largest port of call in West Asia. American aircraft carriers and warships often come here. Iraq: There is Ain Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province of western Iraq. It supports Iraqi security forces and NATO missions. In 2020, Iran launched a missile attack on it to avenge the death of General Qasem Sulemani. Apart from this, Erbil Air Base in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq is America’s largest military base in Iraq. It is a center for training of American and allied countries. It is an important base for intelligence, logistics and military planning. Saudi Arabia: Prince Sultan Air Base is 60 kilometers south of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It supports air and missile defense operations in the region. Advanced defense systems like Patriot and THAAD are deployed here. There were 2,321 US troops present in Saudi Arabia by 2024. The US military coordinates operations with the Saudi military for regional security. Jordan: Muwafaq Al Salti Air Base is in Azraq, about 100 km from Jordan’s capital Amman. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing of the US Air Force is stationed here. It conducts surveillance, air operations and military coordination in the region of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Iraq. Turkey and the US jointly run Incirlik Air Base in southern Adana province. American nuclear weapons are kept here. From here support is given to the coalition against ISIS. 1465 American soldiers are deployed in Türkiye. Apart from these, there are also American military bases in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Overall, Iran is surrounded by American military bases from all sides.
