Three American soldiers were killed and dozens were injured on Sunday after a drone targeted a military site in Jordan known as Tower 22, which is one of many U.S. bases in the Middle East.
Where are American forces located in the Middle East? The United States has maintained military bases throughout the Middle East for decades, peaking in 2011 when there were over 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan and again in 2007 when the number reached 160,000 in Iraq. Although the number of American soldiers has significantly decreased following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, approximately 30,000 troops remain in the region. Additionally, since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October, the U.S. has temporarily deployed thousands of additional troops to the area, some aboard warships.
The largest American base in the Middle East is located in Qatar and is known as Al Udeid Air Base, established in 1996. Other U.S. bases can be found in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates. Washington has about 900 troops stationed in Syria at small bases in the Al-Omar oil field and the area of Al-Shaddadi in the northeast of the country. There is also a small base called At-Tanf near the border with Iraq and Jordan. In Iraq, 2,500 troops are deployed at military facilities such as Union III and Al Asad Air Base, with discussions ongoing regarding the future of these forces.
Why are American forces stationed in the region? U.S. troops are stationed in the Middle East for various reasons and with the consent of the government of each country where they are deployed, except for Syria. U.S. forces have been sent to some countries like Iraq and Syria in an effort to combat ISIS militants and provide military advice to local forces; however, they have faced attacks from Iranian-backed factions in recent years and have sometimes retaliated against these attacks.
Jordan, a key U.S. ally, has hundreds of American trainers conducting extensive military exercises year-round. In other cases, as in Qatar and the Emirates, U.S. troops are deployed to reassure allies, conduct training, and be available for operations in the region as needed.
Are there foreign military bases in the United States? There are no foreign military bases within the United States, but Washington's allies occasionally send their troops for training or to work with American forces.
Tower 22, where the drone attack occurred on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three American reserve soldiers, is strategically significant in Jordan, located in the northeastern part of the country at the point where its borders meet Syria and Iraq. Specifically, Tower 22 is near the At-Tanf base across the border in Syria and hosts a small number of American troops. At-Tanf has been a key element in the fight against ISIS and plays a role in the U.S. strategy to contain Iranian military buildup in eastern Syria.
Are U.S. bases in the region frequently attacked? American bases are heavily guarded facilities, including air defense systems for protection against missiles or drones. These installations in countries like Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are not typically subjected to attacks. However, U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have faced repeated attacks in recent years. Since October 7, American forces have been targeted over 160 times by Iranian-backed groups, resulting in injuries to around 80 soldiers, even before the Sunday attack on Tower 22, which led to about 40 additional injuries.
