Washington, United States: The extensive American military footprint across the Middle East — comprising warships, combat aircraft and refuelling planes — provides the backbone for any large-scale operation targeting Iran.
Following US strikes that President Donald Trump said were aimed at Iran’s naval and missile capabilities, AFP reviewed the principal American military resources currently stationed in the region.
Naval power
The United States has deployed more than a dozen naval vessels in Middle Eastern waters. These include the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, presently operating in the Arabian Sea, along with nine destroyers and three littoral combat ships.
In the Mediterranean, the USS Gerald R. Ford — the largest aircraft carrier in the world — is stationed alongside several additional destroyers. Earlier this week, the carrier docked at Souda Bay in Crete to replenish supplies, fuel and munitions before departing on Thursday. Satellite images later placed it several hundred miles west of Israel’s port city of Haifa.
Each carrier carries thousands of personnel and supports an air wing made up of dozens of fighter aircraft. The simultaneous presence of two US carriers in the Middle East is considered unusual.
Air assets
Beyond the aircraft stationed aboard carriers, Washington has deployed dozens of additional warplanes to the region. Open-source intelligence sources, flight-tracking data and media reports indicate the presence of advanced F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning stealth fighters, as well as F-15 and F-16 jets. Supporting them are KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft, which extend the operational range of these fighters.
Air defence systems
The United States has reportedly strengthened its ground-based air defence systems in the region. Meanwhile, guided-missile destroyers positioned at sea also contribute significant air defence capabilities.
Personnel on regional bases
Although US ground troops are not expected to participate directly in offensive operations against Iran, tens of thousands of American personnel remain stationed at bases throughout the Middle East, making them potential targets in the event of retaliation.
In June 2025, Iran fired missiles at a US base in Qatar following American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Those missiles were intercepted by air defence systems.
