The Complete List of U.S. Military Bases in the Middle East

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States operates multiple military bases across the Middle East. For years, these bases have served to secure Washington’s economic, energy, and geopolitical interests in the oil- and gas-rich region.

These military installations have now become potential targets after the United States launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. In response, Iran has warned that the United States will face consequences if it becomes further involved in the ongoing war with Israel.

There are eight permanent U.S. bases spread across eight countries, along with several undisclosed facilities. Below is a breakdown of their locations and roles:

Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base)

This is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Established in 1996, it houses over 10,000 personnel and around 100 aircraft, including drones. Al Udeid serves as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Bahrain (Naval Support Activity Bahrain)

This installation is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Located in the Persian Gulf, it hosts more than 9,000 personnel and plays a crucial role in maintaining maritime security in the region.

Kuwait (Camp Arifjan)

Camp Arifjan functions as a key logistics and operations base for the U.S. Army. Built after the 1991 Gulf War, it also serves as a staging area for deployments to Iraq and Syria. Kuwait hosts more than 13,000 U.S. personnel.

United Arab Emirates (Al Dhafra Air Base)

This base supports around 3,500 personnel and operates F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and reconnaissance drones. Al Dhafra is also home to the Gulf Air Warfare Center, which provides advanced training programs.

Saudi Arabia

Roughly 2,700 U.S. troops are stationed across several facilities. Their presence includes missile defense operations and joint military training with local forces, primarily to deter threats from Iran.

Jordan

About 2,900 U.S. troops are stationed in Jordan at the request of the local government. American air bases here are critical for intelligence missions and air support operations in Syria and Iraq.

Iraq (Erbil Air Base)

Used primarily for counter-ISIS missions and as a transit base for support operations in Kurdistan and Syria. U.S. presence in Iraq has often drawn opposition from pro-Iranian militia groups.

Egypt

Although not as prominent as other bases, Egypt remains an important military partner. The U.S. maintains a presence here through military aid agreements and joint training initiatives.

In addition to these permanent bases, the U.S. also operates several covert installations identified through investigative reporting:

Israel (Site 512)

This is a high-tech radar facility for detecting ballistic missile threats. Though the number of U.S. personnel is unknown, the base is a core component of the joint missile defense system with Israel.

Oman

Used primarily for aircraft landing and refueling, Oman also allows over 80 annual visits by U.S. naval vessels to its ports.

Turkey

About 1,000 U.S. personnel are stationed at Incirlik and Izmir air bases. Despite periodic tensions between Ankara and Washington, Turkey remains a key NATO partner.

Diego Garcia (Indian Ocean)

While not geographically located in the Middle East, Diego Garcia serves as a launch site for U.S. operations in the Gulf region. The base frequently hosts long-range B-52 and B-2 bombers.

Rehan Oktra Halim, Ida Rosdalina, and Andika Dwi also contributed to this article.

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