Why is Washington Increasing Its Military Presence in the Middle East?
In recent times, the United States has notably intensified its military presence in the Middle East, a strategy Washington typically adopts during major crises in the region. This pattern is evident amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and the subsequent regional tensions, especially between Israel and Iran and their proxies. Naturally, the United States aims to protect its strategic interests in the Middle East and prevent any negative developments from impacting them.
Continuous Build-Up
The key indicators of the U.S. increasing its military presence in the Middle East recently include:
Deploying Aircraft Carriers to the Middle East: On August 2, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to quickly reach the Middle East. The Lincoln group includes the aircraft carrier equipped with F-35C stealth fighter jets and several destroyers. On August 2, 2024, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived in the U.S. Fifth Fleet’s operational area, which covers the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean, on July 12, 2024.
Advanced Fighter Jets and Missile Submarines in the Region: CENTCOM announced on August 8, 2024, the arrival of the most advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets to its area of responsibility. On August 11, 2024, the Pentagon announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the nuclear-powered, cruise missile-armed submarine USS Georgia to the Middle East.
Preparing a Large Ship for Potential Emergencies in the Region: U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher confirmed that the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, arrived at Limassol Port in southern Cyprus on August 8, 2024. She noted that the ship has the capability to support and evacuate civilians during crises. The Wasp, ready for operations with thousands of marines capable of special operations, arrived in the Mediterranean in late July 2024 before conducting joint operations with the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the Royal Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean on July 2, 2024. The Pentagon highlighted that the presence of the Wasp in the region acts as a deterrent and enables the U.S. military to respond to various emergencies.
Interconnected Objectives
Washington’s military build-up in the region aims to achieve several objectives, including:
Sending a Deterrence Message to Tehran and Its Proxies: The U.S. military build-up comes amid heightened regional tensions following the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, 2024, a day after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr. The U.S. military build-up in the region serves as a deterrent message to Iran and its proxies, who are preparing for a large-scale attack on Israel. Washington seeks to prevent or at least mitigate this attack. CENTCOM, in justifying the deployment of F-22 Raptors to the region, stated that it is “part of adjustments to U.S. forces in the region to reduce the likelihood of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies.” Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer emphasized that “the overall goal is to de-escalate tensions in the region, alongside deterrence and repelling such attacks, and to avoid regional conflict.” These reinforcements are expected to prompt Iranian decision-makers to reconsider the consequences of attacking Israel. Reuters reported on August 13, 2024, that a potential ceasefire in Gaza might delay Iran’s response to Haniyeh’s assassination.
Preparing for Iran’s Possible Retaliation Against Israel: Although the U.S. Department of Defense expressed its belief that a large-scale regional war in the Middle East is not imminent, the U.S. administration seems to understand that Iranian threats are very serious, especially after Tehran’s top-level threats of a strong response, as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that “responding to Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran is a duty for Iran.” Furthermore, Revolutionary Guard officials affirmed that “Israel will receive a response to its folly at the appropriate time,” and the Revolutionary Guard conducted military exercises in western Iran from August 9-13, 2024. Therefore, Washington’s military reinforcements in the region are part of early preparations for Iran’s potential retaliation against Israel and the possibility of needing to evacuate its citizens and protect its interests in the region. It is noted that U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed new U.S. defensive military deployments to support Israel against threats such as missiles and drones during a phone call on August 1, 2024. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant also discussed the matter in phone talks.
Building a Western Alliance to Defend Israel Against Iran: Washington’s moves aim to form a Western alliance to defend Israel, similar to the response when Tehran attacked Tel Aviv on April 13, 2024. CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla visited the region on August 3, 2024, and visited Israel on August 8, 2024. Reports speculated that the purpose of these visits was to rally the same coalition that defended Israel during the April 13 attack. These efforts seem to have been somewhat successful, as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement on August 12, 2024, expressing their support for Israel against any attack by Iran or its proxies.
Providing Additional Support to U.S. Forces in the Region: The U.S. military build-up in the Middle East also aims to provide additional support to U.S. forces deployed in the region, especially in Iraq and Syria, after these forces were attacked by Iranian proxies. An example is the attack on the Ain al-Assad military base in Iraq on August 5, 2024, which injured at least five U.S. soldiers. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed on August 10, 2024, that U.S. forces were on high alert across all military bases in Syria after two U.S. military bases in the Rmelan and Kharab al-Jir fields in the Hasakah countryside were attacked by drones. This aligns with the Oregon National Guard’s announcement on August 10, 2024, that 230 soldiers were preparing to deploy to Syria and Iraq to serve in artillery for the United States and its partners there. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in a joint press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 6, 2024, that the United States “will not tolerate” attacks against its forces in the Middle East, following the Ain al-Assad attack. He added that the U.S. is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and is committed to “ensuring the security of both Israel and U.S. soldiers,” noting that “an Iranian-backed Shiite militia was behind the attack on the base,” and stressed that they had reorganized their military presence in the Middle East according to the latest developments.
Rising Weight
In conclusion, the U.S. military presence in the Middle East changes depending on circumstances and occasions. The ongoing military build-up increases the U.S. military weight in the region, which typically rises during times of tension and conflict and decreases when tensions subside. The current build-up aims, in addition to deterring Iran and its proxies, to ensure readiness for any potential situation that could embarrass Washington’s status and prestige in the region and harm U.S. interests and those of its regional allies. The U.S. military reinforcements in the region indicate that Washington’s military presence in the Middle East remains a priority for U.S. policymakers.
