The significant buildup of US military forces in the Middle East, including warships, combat aircraft and refueling systems, gives the US the opportunity for a prolonged operation against Iran, notes Agence France-Presse in an analytical article cited by BTA.
The US currently has dozens of warships and aircraft in the Middle East and has tens of thousands of soldiers in bases throughout the region, some of which could be vulnerable to an Iranian counterattack.
Navy
The US military currently has about a dozen warships in the Middle East: one aircraft carrier – – – – – – – – – – destroyers and three light frigates, according to a US official.
The world's largest aircraft carrier, – – Gerald Ford,– is in the Mediterranean after Donald Trump ordered its deployment to the region in mid-February. It is accompanied by three destroyers. Satellite images show it is several hundred nautical miles west of the Israeli port of Haifa.
It is rare for two US aircraft carriers - which carry dozens of fighter jets and thousands of sailors - to be sent to the Middle East at the same time. But something similar happened last June, when Trump authorized airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war launched by Israel.
Air Force
The US has also mobilized a significant air force in the region, according to specialized accounts on "Ex" and the flight tracking site Flightradar24. It includes F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, F-35 Lightning stealth fighters, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, as well as KC-135 refueling aircraft that support the operations.
Air defense
The US has also strengthened its ground-based air defense systems in the Middle East, while the many missile destroyers in the region provide air defense capabilities at sea.
US troops in bases
Although ground forces are unlikely to participate in offensive operations against Iran, the US has tens of thousands of troops stationed in bases in the region. They have a presence in bases in Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait, for which BTA will present a separate report.