Iran strikes mapped: The 8 air bases in Middle East on RED ALERT for WW3

The United States maintains an extensive military footprint in the Middle East, including a number of naval assets and permanent bases. The powerhouse maintains a considerable presence, with forces in over a dozen countries and on ships throughout the region's waters.

This presence was even expanded last year as the US focused on deterring and defeating threats from Iran and its network of armed affiliates in the region, including Hamas (Gaza Strip), Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Houthis (Yemen) and several Iraq-and Syria-based militant groups. After weeks of threats by US President Donald Trump, on Sunday, US forces attacked Iran's three main nuclear sites in a series of missile strikes and bombings. Tehran, in response, said it reserves the right to defend itself. Revealed below are the eight US airbases that are on high alert as Iran threatens retaliation.

Though Iran has depleted its medium-range missiles - able to travel up to 1,240 miles - it retains short-range capacity up to 435 miles. Several US military bases are within this range, according to estimates by the CSIS Missile Defense Project in the New York Times.

These include bases and military sites in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates - all of which may be at risk of Iranian retaliation with short-range weapons. In the wider region, the US operates a broad network of sites across at least 19 locations. Eight are permanent, including in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Bahrain

Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) is home to the US Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet. Thanks to the port's deep waters, America's largest military vessels, including aircraft carriers, can access here. Four anti-mine vessels, two logistical support ships and several US Coast Guard vessels have a home port in Bahrain.

Iraq

The US has a number of military bases in Iraq, including two air fields - the Al-Harir and Al Asad air bases - and dozens of camps and outposts. These bases were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militant groups after Israel's invasion of Gaza in October 2023. In January 2024, the Iraqi government requested a start to negotiations on ending the US military presence in Iraq.

Kuwait

Kuwait hosts two US air bases and several other outposts. Ali Al Salem Air Base is home to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, one of the main hubs for delivering combat support in the region.

Qatar

Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base is the largest of its kind in the region. It includes components of Central Command (Centcom) and elements of its air forces and special operations forces in the Middle East. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, one of the largest, most diverse expeditionary wings in the Air Force, has its headquarters at the Al Udeid Air Base.

Saudi Arabia

The Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia is a major site which hosted a large US presence during its war in Iraq, and from which the US air force still operates. Eskan Village, near Riyadh, also serves as a housing facility for US military personnel, largely those under training.

UAE

Al Dahfra Air Base is home to the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which has 10 aircraft squadrons and holds MQ-9 Reaper drones. The base also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Centre for air and missile defence training.

Egypt

While the US has no major combat bases in Egypt, there are several military facilities there. One is Naval Medical Research Unit Three in Cairo, which conducts research on infectious diseases and their prevention and is home to the DoD's largest overseas laboratory.

Jordan

The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan was allocated around £106 million for upgrades and expansion in 2019. It hosts military partners including Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, with two runways almost 10,000ft long. The American Government has deployed various aircraft there due to the military intervention against ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The base is partly operated by the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.