Significant build-up of US forces in Middle East amid Trump's threats against Iran

Since President Donald Trump told Iranians protesting the regime in Tehran that “help is on the way”, there has been a slow but steady and significant build-up of US military forces in the region, notes the BBC's defense correspondent Jonathan Beale.

The US military presence is already significant in the Middle East, where around 50,000 US troops are stationed. About 10,000 of them are stationed at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, but there are also US troops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain.

In recent weeks, according to information from open sources, dozens of additional US military aircraft have arrived in the region.

The images captured on Sunday at the al-Udeid Air Base, the largest of the United States in the Middle East, showed a series of new structures, the BBC correspondent also notes.

The Pentagon did not provide a detailed list of the movements, but sources on social media noted the arrival of F-15 fighter jets, refueling tankers and transport aircraft.

There is a possibility that some of the transport aircraft may have carried additional air defense systems in case of Iranian retaliation against US or allied facilities should President Donald Trump order an attack on Iran.

Military exercise announced by the US

The US Air Force announced a major exercise in the region, Agile Spartan, “to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse and sustain combat air power in the US Central Command area of ​​responsibility.”

Steffan Watkins, a Canadian consultant who tracks ship and aircraft movements based on open source intelligence, recently monitored the arrival of a number of US early warning and “spy” aircraft that were also present during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2024, when the US military joined the Israeli offensive and bombed nuclear facilities in Iran.

The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln's strike group, which was in the Indo-Pacific when it was ordered to turn back and head for the Gulf, also arrived in the region. The group also includes F-35 fighter jets and three destroyers loaded with Tomohawk cruise missiles, and is normally accompanied by a nuclear submarine.

This is in addition to the two American destroyers already present in the region.

Trump has threatened Iran with military intervention

The BBC correspondent's analysis comes as President Trump threatened Iran with military intervention on Wednesday afternoon, reminding the regime in Tehran

“A massive armada is heading towards Iran. It is moving fast, with great power, enthusiasm and precise purpose. It is a larger fleet, led by the great aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, than the one sent to Venezuela. As in the case of Venezuela, it is ready, willing and able to carry out its mission quickly, with speed and violence if necessary,” the US president wrote on Wednesday in a message published on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“We hope that Iran will 'come to the table quickly' and negotiate a fair and just deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is beneficial to all parties. Time is running out, it really is of the essence! As I told Iran once before: MAKE A DEAL! They didn't, and 'Operation Midnight Hammer' followed, a major destruction of Iran,” Trump continued.

Iran's replica

Iran's mission to the United Nations said Tehran was ready for talks but would give an unprecedented response to a possible attack.

“Iran is ready for dialogue, based on mutual respect and interests — but if provoked, it will defend itself and respond like never before!” the mission on the X platform wrote, along with a screenshot of the message published by Trump.