Mapped: The US bases Iran may strike if war with Israel escalates

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that any US military intervention in the conflict with Israel will lead to "irreparable" consequences.

The message followed President Donald Trump's public threats, who said Washington was "losing patience" with Tehran, and rejected Israeli plans to assassinate the Shia leader. 

Iran has repeatedly made it clear that any direct involvement in the conflict is a red line. Iranian officials have told American and European counterparts that US bases across the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, would be among the first targets. 

Pentagon footprint in the Middle East

The United States has tens of thousands of troops and military personnel stationed across the Middle East under the US Central Command (CENTCOM). These forces are spread across strategic air and naval bases that have served as hubs for logistics, intelligence and combat operations. 

The Naval Support Activity in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces Central Command, is a key American installation in the Gulf. It provides access to the Arabian Sea, hosts large vessels, including aircraft carriers and is used by both the Navy and Coast Guard. 

The proximity of the naval powerhouse to Iranian waters makes it particularly vulnerable to any retaliatory strike. 

In Qatar, Al Udeid Air Base houses CENTCOM's headquarters and serves as the primary hub for US air operations in the region. It is the largest American military facility in the Middle East, hosting over 10,000 personnel. The base supports aerial refuelling, surveillance and combat operations. 

On Thursday, the US Embassy in Qatar issued a security alert temporarily barring its staff from entering the base located in the desert near the capital Doha. The embassy said on its website that the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities". 

According to US intelligence reports, Al Udeid is a likely Iranian target if Washington becomes directly involved in the conflict. 

Camp Arifjan in Kuwait serves as another forward headquarters of the US Army in the region. The nearby Ali Al Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which plays a central role in airlift and drone operations. The US maintains extensive capabilities here, including MQ-9 Reapers, making it a strategic and exposed military asset.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, there are about 2,500 US troops at installations including Al-Asad and Erbil. These forces support operations against the Islamic State, but Iraq's political support, both towards the US and Iran, has left the American site vulnerable. 

Between October 2023 and November 2024, US troops in Iraq and Syria came under repeated attack from Iranian-backed militias, with over 180 incidents recorded. 

Although the US has recently reduced its troop presence in Syria to fewer than 1,000 personnel, American forces continue to operate from several installations as part of "counterterrorism missions". The bases, often in remote areas, are highly exposed and have faced repeated drone and rocket fire from militia groups in recent years. 

How could Iran hit back?

Iran boasts a wide arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles able to strike all the major US bases across the Gulf, Iraq and the Levant. 

American officials have acknowledged that Tehran would require little additional preparation to launch attacks on these sites. US intelligence reported that in the event of American intervention, Iran and its allies would target not only military bases but also shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz - potentially mining them to trap US naval assets. 

Iran also has a network of allied militias across the region, including Syria and Yemen, that could be mobilised to hit US interests. Ally groups have already shown their capacities during Israel's war on the besieged Gaza, launching attacks on American positions and threatening regional energy infrastructure. 

The Houthis are expected to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes if hostilities widen. 

Iran's latest hypersonic missiles, such as the Fattah-1, have sparked concern among Western powers over its military strategy. These missiles, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 15, are designed to evade air defence systems. When used alongside drone and ballistic missile swarms, they can saturate even sophisticated defensive shields like Israel's.

Despite US and Israeli interception efforts, a significant number of Iranian missiles reached their targets during the recent escalation.