Iran has warned it could retaliate. The US has a lot of firepower ready to respond.
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Iran has warned it could retaliate. The US has a lot of firepower ready to respond.
Iran has warned that it has the right to take action against the US after it bombed major nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would be met with more force than the initial strikes he ordered. The US military has a very large force presence in and around the Middle East right now, including land and naval bases that Iran could target in strikes. It also has air defense assets, such as warships and surface-to-air missile systems, that could shield forces from a retaliatory attack. It’s unclear how many Iranian retaliatory missiles have intercepted American forces so far, and how many could be used in a strike on US bases or smaller military outposts. The situation is potentially far more escalatory than the killing of a top Iranian general in 2020, which saw Tehran fire ballistic missiles at US forces in the Mideast. The U.S. has around 40,000 troops stationed throughout the Middle Middle East, serving at major military installations in countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran has warned that it has the right to take action against the US after it bombed major nuclear facilities.
A top US general said America is ready to defend its forces in the Middle East.
The US has a large force presence — from warships to fighter jets — that could provide air defense.
The US military is bracing for possible retribution from the Iranians after American forces, including stealth bomber aircraft and a guided-missile submarine, attacked three of its main nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country “reserves all options” to defend itself, and an Iranian military spokesperson said the US should expect “consequences,” according to state-affiliated media. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would be met with more force than the initial strikes he ordered.
Whether Iran pursues retaliation remains to be seen. The bombing mission over the weekend struck at the heart of its nuclear program, making the situation potentially far more escalatory than the killing of a top Iranian general in 2020, which saw Tehran fire ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East in response.
The US military has a very large force presence in and around the Middle East right now, including land and naval bases that Iran could target in strikes. It also has air defense assets, such as warships and surface-to-air missile systems, that could shield forces from a retaliatory attack. Many of these assets could also be used to carry out a punitive response in the event of Iranian retaliation.
At sea
A defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss force posture, told Business Insider on Monday that the US Navy has two carrier strike groups in the Arabian Sea.
This includes the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz, one cruiser, and five destroyers. Each carrier strike group has an embarked air wing consisting of dozens of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and helicopters.
The Vinson and Nimitz are each equipped with dozens of aircraft in their respective carrier air wings. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Pablo Chavez
The Vinson is one of just a few US carriers that is currently equipped with advanced, fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets in its air wing. These advanced aircraft are specially designed for the Navy so they can take off from and land on the carrier.
The official said two destroyers are in the Red Sea and five more are in the nearby eastern Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford could eventually join them. Its strike group is leaving Virginia on Tuesday for a regularly scheduled deployment to Europe, but it is available to be retasked.
As of Saturday, a guided-missile submarine was at an undisclosed location in the Middle East, as it participated in the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The official declined to say if it was still there.
On land
The US has around 40,000 troops stationed throughout the Middle East, serving at major military installations in countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
There are concerns that Iran may choose to target US bases or smaller military outposts, which would not be unprecedented. After a US drone strike eliminated Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Tehran retaliated by launching missiles at American forces in Iraq.
Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US had elevated force protection measures across the Middle East before the weekend strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, especially in Iraq, Syria, and in the Gulf states.
The US has ground-based missile defenses, like its Patriot and THAAD systems. US Army photo by Sgt. Steve Asfall
“Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice,” Caine told reporters on Sunday.
He said the US will defend itself, adding that “the safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority.”
The US military has multiple MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries and at least one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense — or THAAD — system in the Middle East. These can be used to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles.
A US official told BI last week that the US military has provided both land- and sea-based air defense for Israel since the country started its strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13. It’s unclear how many Iranian retaliatory missiles American forces have intercepted.
In the air
The US Air Force has a range of aircraft in the Middle East, including fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets, strike drones, and refueling tankers.
After Israel began its bombing campaign earlier this month, but prior to the US joining over the weekend, Reuters reported that additional F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets had deployed to American bases. A-10 attack aircraft and F-15s are also in the region.
The US Air Force has a range of planes in the region, including F-16s. US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske
The Pentagon declined to provide a rundown of the aircraft in the region, and US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond to BI’s request for clarity on US assets in the region.
US fighter aircraft could shoot down Iranian attack drones launched in retaliation, as they did in April 2024 in defense of Israel. They are also capable of intercepting cruise missiles with air-to-air munitions.
Iran’s response, however, may not be limited to military actions such as launching missiles and drones. There are concerns about terror threats, and it could also opt to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transit chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
On Monday, the US Embassy in Qatar warned American citizens to shelter in place until further notice, just hours before Doha closed its airspace. It’s possible that Iran could choose to retaliate against US interests in the Gulf state.
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Iran says it fired on a US base. Qatar says air defenses shot down the missiles.
Iranian state media said the strikes were a “mighty and successful response” to the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US Embassy in Qatar warned Americans to shelter in place until further notice. There are no reports of casualties from the attack on Al Udeid, which is home to a large US military base. It’s unclear if any of the planes missing from the base have returned to the air. The attack may have been a precautionary measure to avoid escalation.
Iranian state media said Tehran launched the same number of missiles as the number of bombs that the US used against its nuclear facilities, and called the strikes “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry also confirmed the attack on Al Udied and described it as a violation of its sovereignty. Doha said its air defenses “successfully thwarted” the strikes, intercepting Iranian missiles.
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Open-source accounts online shared footage purporting to show air defenses engaging targets over Qatar. Some Iranian media reported the targeting of American forces in Iraq, although there has not been any official confirmation from the Pentagon.
The US Air Force and US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, did not immediately comment on the Iranian attack.
Satellite imagery of Al Udeid last week showed dozens of military aircraft missing from the base after around 40 were spotted there earlier in the month. The air base supports a vast array of US aircraft, including B-52 strategic bombers, C-17 Globemaster transports, and RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft.
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It’s unclear if any of the aircraft returned. Although the planes may no longer be there, US military personnel would still likely be on base.
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Tehran had suggested that it could retaliate after US stealth bomber aircraft and a guided-missile submarine launched airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. Its foreign minister said the country “reserves all options” to defend itself.
Earlier on Monday, the US Embassy in Qatar warned Americans to shelter in place until further notice, just hours before Doha closed its airspace, suggesting that an attack could be imminent.
President Donald Trump had warned Iran that any retaliation against the US would be met with more force than the initial strikes . It’s possible that the attack on Al Udeid may have been calibrated to signal Iran’s frustration while avoiding escalation.
“Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice,” Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Sunday.
Live updates: Iran strikes U.S. forces in Qatar; retaliates for nuclear facilities attack
Iran has vowed to respond after the U.S. used warplanes and submarines to attack three Iranian nuclear facilities. The full impact of the strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program was still not entirely clear as of early this morning. President Trump has warned that any Iranian retaliation “will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed”
The strike, dubbed Iran Operation Midnight Hammer, was launched Saturday, with more than 125 U.S. military aircraft involved in the operation.
In an address to the nation on Saturday night, Trump lauded the attack as a success, saying Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” The full impact of the U.S. strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program was still not entirely clear as of early this morning.
Iran has vowed to respond, saying it “reserves all options,” which could include targeting U.S. bases in the region or disrupting global trade with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints. Trump has warned that any Iranian retaliation against U.S. assets “will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed” in Washington’s attacks over the weekend.
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Iran has warned it could retaliate. The US has a lot of firepower ready to respond.
Iran’s foreign minister said the country “reserves all options” to defend itself. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would be met with more force than the initial strikes he ordered. The US military has a very large force presence in and around the Middle East, including land and naval bases that Iran could target in strikes. It also has air defense assets, such as warships and surface-to-air missile systems, that could shield forces from a retaliatory attack. There are concerns that Iran may choose to target US bases or smaller military outposts, which would not be unprecedented, an official said. The U.S. military has provided both land and sea-based air defense for Israel since the country started its strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities on June 13. It’s unclear how many Iranian retaliatory missiles have been intercepted by American forces since the strikes on Iran’s military facilities began earlier this month. The situation is potentially far more escalatory than the killing of a top Iranian general in 2020, which saw Tehran fire ballistic missiles at US forces.
The USS Carl Vinson is one of two aircraft carriers in the Middle East. US Navy photo
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The US military is bracing for possible retribution from the Iranians after American forces, including stealth bomber aircraft and a guided-missile submarine, attacked three of its main nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country “reserves all options” to defend itself, and an Iranian military spokesperson said the US should expect “consequences,” according to state-affiliated media. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would be met with more force than the initial strikes he ordered.
Whether Iran pursues retaliation remains to be seen. The bombing mission over the weekend struck at the heart of its nuclear program, making the situation potentially far more escalatory than the killing of a top Iranian general in 2020, which saw Tehran fire ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East in response.
The US military has a very large force presence in and around the Middle East right now, including land and naval bases that Iran could target in strikes. It also has air defense assets, such as warships and surface-to-air missile systems, that could shield forces from a retaliatory attack. Many of these assets could also be used to carry out a punitive response in the event of Iranian retaliation.
At sea
A defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss force posture, told Business Insider on Monday that the US Navy has two carrier strike groups in the Arabian Sea.
This includes the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz, one cruiser, and five destroyers. Each carrier strike group has an embarked air wing consisting of dozens of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and helicopters.
The Vinson and Nimitz are each equipped with dozens of aircraft in their respective carrier air wings. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Pablo Chavez
The Vinson is one of just a few US carriers that is currently equipped with advanced, fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets in its air wing. These advanced aircraft are specially designed for the Navy so they can take off from and land on the carrier.
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The official said two destroyers are in the Red Sea and five more are in the nearby eastern Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford could eventually join them. Its strike group is leaving Virginia on Tuesday for a regularly scheduled deployment to Europe, but it is available to be retasked.
As of Saturday, a guided-missile submarine was at an undisclosed location in the Middle East, as it participated in the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The official declined to say if it was still there.
On land
The US has around 40,000 troops stationed throughout the Middle East, serving at major military installations in countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
There are concerns that Iran may choose to target US bases or smaller military outposts, which would not be unprecedented. After a US drone strike eliminated Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Tehran retaliated by launching missiles at American forces in Iraq.
Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US had elevated force protection measures across the Middle East before the weekend strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, especially in Iraq, Syria, and in the Gulf states.
The US has ground-based missile defenses, like its Patriot and THAAD systems. US Army photo by Sgt. Steve Asfall
“Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice,” Caine told reporters on Sunday.
He said the US will defend itself, adding that “the safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority.”
The US military has multiple MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries and at least one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense — or THAAD — system in the Middle East. These can be used to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles.
A US official told BI last week that the US military has provided both land- and sea-based air defense for Israel since the country started its strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13. It’s unclear how many Iranian retaliatory missiles American forces have intercepted.
In the air
The US Air Force has a range of aircraft in the Middle East, including fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets, strike drones, and refueling tankers.
After Israel began its bombing campaign earlier this month, but prior to the US joining over the weekend, Reuters reported that additional F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets had deployed to American bases. A-10 attack aircraft and F-15s are also in the region.
The US Air Force has a range of planes in the region, including F-16s. US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske
The Pentagon declined to provide a rundown of the aircraft in the region, and US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond to BI’s request for clarity on US assets in the region.
US fighter aircraft could shoot down Iranian attack drones launched in retaliation, as they did in April 2024 in defense of Israel. They are also capable of intercepting cruise missiles with air-to-air munitions.
Iran’s response, however, may not be limited to military actions such as launching missiles and drones. There are concerns about terror threats, and it could also opt to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transit chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
On Monday, the US Embassy in Qatar warned American citizens to shelter in place until further notice, just hours before Doha closed its airspace. It’s possible that Iran could choose to retaliate against US interests in the Gulf state.
Iran backed groups preparing US base attacks
Reports reveal Iran backed groups plan US base attacks in Iraq and Syria. This comes amid renewed tensions following recent US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Washington has increased patrols around its bases and urged Baghdad to take stronger action. Meanwhile, local leaders in Baghdad are voicing growing concern. They fear their government could lose control over armed groups once again. But so far, progress remains slow and experts warn that enforcement remains weak. The Iran backed group might target airbases, logistics hubs, or supply convoys. Such actions would threaten military readiness and potentially draw American forces into direct combat. If they succeed in launching attacks, Washington may have to retaliate.
The New York Times reports that Iran backed groups are preparing coordinated attacks on US military bases in Iraq and possibly Syria. A senior US official told the paper that intelligence and military units have noticed a significant rise in militia activity linked to Iran. These groups appear to plan operations targeting American interests.
Until now, no US facility has suffered a direct attack. However, the Iraqi government has started efforts to contain these militias and prevent a wider outbreak. This revelation comes amid renewed tensions following recent US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Alarming buildup of militia firepower
US military sources confirmed that they have tracked increased weapons shipments and troop movements among Iran backed groups. According to the New York Times, intelligence agencies intercepted messages that indicate growing coordination among multiple factions. These groups may aim to capitalize on regional volatility following the nuclear tensions.
Iraq’s authorities publicly pledged to clamp down on militia operations. Still, experts warn that enforcement remains weak. Meanwhile, Washington has increased patrols around its bases and urged Baghdad to take stronger action.
Regional dynamics after US–Iran nuclear clash
The ramped-up militia activity follows US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran responded by striking back at regional American targets. It has warned that it will retaliate again at a time and place of its choosing.
The UN Security Council hosted an emergency session, where Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Saeed Iravani, described the US strikes as a “severe violation of international law.” He also declared: “Iran will deliver a crushing response.” That escalation has emboldened groups aligned with Tehran, according to US analysts.
Implications for US forces in Iraq and Syria
Counterinsurgency experts warn that these developments could spark a wider proxy engagement in the region. The Iran backed groups might target airbases, logistics hubs, or supply convoys. Such actions would threaten military readiness and potentially draw American forces into direct combat.
This scenario forces US commanders to adjust their base defenses. They have already increased air patrols and sensor deployments around key installations. Still, experts argue these reactive measures offer limited protection against large-scale militia operations.
Balancing military readiness with diplomacy
Despite the threat, Washington also seeks to reduce tensions through diplomacy. US officials are urging Baghdad to enforce security arrangements. They hope improved Iraqi control and transparency will deter militia attacks while reducing the risk of escalation.
The US has also dispatched senior envoys to regional capitals, including Baghdad and Amman. Their mission includes discussing new security cooperation agreements and clarifying that militia aggression will trigger targeted responses.
What lies ahead for regional stability
Analysts caution that the Iran backed groups’ growing boldness signals deeper regional instability. If they succeed in launching attacks, Washington may have to retaliate. That could lead to unexpected escalation, with consequences for civilian populations and energy markets.
Conversely, if diplomatic efforts succeed, they may present a chance to defuse the crisis. But so far, progress remains slow. Meanwhile, local leaders in Baghdad are voicing growing concern. They fear their government could lose control over armed groups once again.