The number of U.S. troops in the Middle East has exceeded 50,000 amid tensions with Iran. This was reported by Glavkom, citing The New York Times.
Typically, there are about 40,000 U.S. troops in the region. They are stationed in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, both at bases and on ships. However, due to the escalating situation with Iran, the number of troops has risen to over 50,000.
This figure does not include the approximately 4,500 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which left the region on March 23 and headed for Europe, stopping first in Crete and then in Croatia. The ship’s further route is currently unknown.
Last week, the Pentagon deployed an additional 2,000 troops from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the region. Their location has not been disclosed, but it is known that they will remain within striking distance of Iran.
According to the publication, these forces could be deployed in various scenarios, including ground operations or the control of strategic sites such as Kharg Island. However, experts note that even 50,000 troops are insufficient to conduct a large-scale ground operation involving the potential capture of territory in a country of Iran’s stature.
