In a retaliatory move early Saturday morning, Iran launched missile strikes on US bases in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

No immediate reports on casualties or damage from the Iranian missile strikes have emerged as yet.

However, some media outlets reported that Iran targeted Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US airbase in Bahrain.

Iran had previously warned that any attack on its territory would make all US and Israeli assets in the region legitimate targets.

US military presence

The United States maintains the world’s most extensive global military network, with approximately 750 military bases in 80 countries.

Japan has the highest number of US military bases, with 120, while Germany follows closely with 119, and South Korea hosts 73.

Most of these were established during World War II.

US bases in the Middle East

The US military has been present in the Middle East for decades, using bases in various countries for communication, air, naval, and ground operations.

Iran and other regional nations fall under the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Qatar

Located near Doha, Al-Udeid Air Base is the largest US military installation in the Middle East.

While CENTCOM’s headquarters is in Florida, Al-Udeid serves as its regional forward headquarters.

From Al-Udeid Air Base, the US keeps an eye on operations from Egypt to Kazakhstan, coordinating air missions across the Middle East.

The base also played a key role in supporting military campaigns in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Kuwait

Kuwait is home to several major US military installations, including Camp Arifjan, the second-largest in the region.

The base acts as a forward headquarters for US Army Central and provides essential logistical and administrative support to American ground forces throughout the Middle East.

Another base, Ali Al-Salem Air Base near the Iraq border, is nicknamed “The Rock” due to its harsh environment.

Camp Buehring, set up during the 2003 Iraq War, continues to serve as a vital hub for U.S. troops deploying to Iraq and Syria.

Several additional, smaller bases also exist across Kuwait.

Bahrain

Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters at NSA Bahrain, overseeing the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The base is considered a central hub of American naval power in the region.

United Arab Emirates

Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, is a joint US-Emirati facility that has played a critical role in anti-Daesh operations and regional surveillance missions.

While Dubai’s Jebel Ali port is not a formal military base, it serves as the US Navy’s largest “port of call” in the Middle East, regularly hosting aircraft carriers.

Iraq

The US maintains a presence at Ain Al Asad Air Base in western Anbar, supporting Iraqi security forces and NATO missions.

In 2020, Iran launched missile strikes on this base in retaliation for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region is another key US and allied facility, used for training, intelligence sharing, and logistical coordination.

Saudi Arabia

Prince Sultan Air Base, located about 60 km south of Riyadh, hosts US Patriot missile and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) systems.

Jordan

Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, roughly 100 km northeast of Amman, hosts the US Air Force’s Air Expeditionary Wing, conducting missions along the eastern Mediterranean coast.

Turkey

Turkey, a key NATO member, falls under US European Command (EUCOM) jurisdiction.

Incirlik Air Base in Adana, southern Turkey, is the most strategically important US base in the region, serving operations against Daesh.

Malatya’s Kürecik Radar Station in eastern Turkey is equipped with advanced anti-ballistic missile radar to provide early warnings of Iranian missile launches and activate NATO missile defences.

Iran has repeatedly protested the presence of this base.

Iranian military capabilities

According to Global Firepower’s 2025 Middle East ranking, Iran is the third-largest military power in the region and ranks 16th globally.

With a population exceeding 88 million, Iran has an active military force of approximately 610,000 personnel.

The country possesses 551 aircraft (113 fighter jets), 1,713 tanks, and 107 naval vessels.

The US thinktank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), notes that Iran’s short-range missiles can reach several US bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE.

Past statements from Iranian officials suggest that, amid rising regional tensions, all US military installations in the Middle East are now within Iran’s targeting range.