DUBAI (Agencies): Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, military experts warn that Iran’s extensive missile and drone capabilities could severely impact American military installations across the Middle East. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran, but analysts highlight that Iran’s strategic firepower and geographic advantages could make such a conflict highly costly.
The U.S. currently maintains approximately 40,000 military personnel in the Middle East, spread across over 60 bases, garrisons, and shared facilities. This includes major installations such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, and other key locations in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Turkiye. At times of heightened conflict, troop numbers have surged to nearly 50,000, particularly during regional crises. The U.S. military presence also includes roughly 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria.
Iran’s missile arsenal includes powerful ballistic missiles such as the Qiam-1/2, with an 800-1,000 km range, and the Khorramshahr, which has a range of 2,000 km and can carry multiple warheads. Its cruise missiles, such as the Soumar with a range of up to 3,000 km, add another layer of strategic threat. Additionally, Iran’s fleet of drones, including the Shahed 129 and the Shahed 149, can strike targets as far as 2,500 km away.
Beyond raw firepower, Iran’s geographical advantages include its dominance over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which 30% of the world’s oil trade flows. Iran has also fortified its defenses within the Zagros Mountains, making military strikes against its key installations challenging.
With tensions continuing to escalate, experts caution that any military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran could lead to a highly destructive conflict, potentially threatening the stability of the entire region.