Iran-Israel conflict: What are the key US military bases in Middle East?

Iranian editor Hossein Shariatmadari, a close associate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly wrote an editorial urging immediate retaliation. “We must launch a missile strike on the US naval fleet in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote.

With Washington bracing for likely retaliation, here’s a breakdown of major US military bases across the Middle East:

Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the US Naval Forces Central Command. The Gulf kingdom provides deep-water port access for large US vessels, including aircraft carriers. It also houses four anti-mine ships, two logistical support ships, and several US Coast Guard vessels. The facility has been used by the US Navy since 1948, initially operated by Britain’s Royal Navy.