The United States has maintained a military presence in the Middle East for decades, currently stationing between 40,000 and 50,000 troops across at least 19 sites.
The US and Israel on Saturday bombed multiple Iranian cities, prompting a fierce response from Tehran, which launched missiles at Israel and towards several military bases in the Middle East where American forces operate.
The intense exchange of projectiles forced several nations to close their airspace. Many countries have, in recent days, cautioned their diplomats and citizens in the region about the prospects of a military escalation between Iran and the US. Some countries had even asked their citizens to evacuate.
Iran had previously warned that if it were attacked, it would respond by targeting US military facilities across the region. We break down what these bases are.
The US has operated military bases in the Middle East for decades.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the US operates a broad network of military sites, both permanent and temporary, across at least 19 locations in the region.
Of these, eight are permanent bases, located across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The US’s first deployment of soldiers in the Middle East was in July 1958, when combat troops were sent to Beirut during the Lebanon crisis. At its height, there were almost 15,000 Marines and Army soldiers in Lebanon.
As of mid-2025, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 US troops in the Middle East, comprising personnel stationed in both large, permanent bases and smaller forward sites across the region.
The countries with the most US troops include Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These installations serve as critical hubs for air and naval operations, regional logistics, intelligence gathering and force projection.
Below are some notable bases in the region.
