The United States has access to a diverse array of bases and allied facilities to support its operations against Iran
US aggression against Iran would have been impossible without US military bases on the territories of the Gulf monarchies. These bases serve as the key footholds for deploying America’s offensive capabilities. US military presence in the region has long been a strategic cornerstone of American policy. Its goal is to ensure the security of global oil supplies, protect allies, and deter regional threats, which, according to the US-Israeli narrative, emanate mainly from Iran.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is a cornerstone of American military presence in the region. Its operations span the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the surrounding waters. Key bases are located in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman and include military headquarters, critical infrastructure facilities, logistical hubs, air bases, and seaports. Ahead of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the US anticipated retaliation and significantly reduced the number of troops and support staff at these bases. However, the deployment of additional offensive forces and missile defense systems have led to a significant US military buildup in the region.
US Navy’s Fifth Fleet
The Fifth Fleet was reactivated in 1995 following Operation Desert Storm against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. It became clear that in such an unstable region, the US Navy had to maintain a constant presence – to support “democracy and freedom” as America put it. Today, the Fifth Fleet oversees operations across an area of 2.5 million square miles – from the Persian Gulf to vast portions of the Indian Ocean.
The fleet’s headquarters are located in Bahrain at the central base of the US Navy in Manama, known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain). Located in the Juffair district, NSA Bahrain encompasses several city blocks, including warehouses, command centers for communications and intelligence, a baseball field, and housing facilities. The base coordinates fleet operations, including carrier strike groups like the USS Abraham Lincoln, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, frigates, and submarines operating within the Fifth Fleet’s area of responsibility.
The Fifth Fleet previously participated in operations Earnest Will (carried out in 1987-1988; focused on ensuring the safe passage of oil tankers) and Praying Mantis (carried out in 1988; strikes on Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf). The fleet also took part in the Iraq War in 2003 and operations against ISIS and the Yemeni Houthis. Naturally, the Fifth Fleet is now directly involved in Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
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