U.S. Forces in the Middle East

It is quite probable that a war may be launched within the next two to six months. Currently over 60,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are in the Persian Gulf area, and more are arriving. Reports on Dec. 19 indicated that more than 50,000 additional troops are likely to flow into the Gulf region in January. The war plan apparently includes three Army heavy divisions, one of which is likely to be the 3rd Infantry Division which is already in Kuwait, a light division, probably the 101st Airborne Division whose participation has been extensively speculated upon in the media, and a Marine division, almost certainly the 1st Marine Division from California which is aligned with the Marine headquarters already in Kuwait.

On Dec. 12, it was confirmed that the USS George Washington had transited the Strait of Gibraltar heading west, back to the United States. This effectively removes the carrier and her battle group from any potential war against Iraq in the near future. In addition, the USS Abraham Lincoln and her battle group have recently left the area, leaving the Constellation's group on station. It was also announced on Dec. 15 that the British Royal Navy will send a carrier task group to the region in early January, ostensibly on its way to multinational exercises off Malaysia in June. The group will be lead by the carrier HMS Ark Royal, accompanied by escorts HMS Liverpool and Marlborough, an undisclosed nuclear attack submarine, and the support ships Fort Victoria and Orangeleaf. British newspapers also reported on Dec. 18 that sealift ships are being chartered to move British tanks and other military vehicles to the Gulf, and an announcement of the deployment of a British armored division is expected within about two weeks.

In Qatar, Exercise Internal Look ended on Dec. 17 at the Central Command's deployable headquarters at As Sayliyah. Some or all of the staff may depart back home; probably some will stay. Significant British elements, perhaps up to 200-300 personnel, along with Australian officers, took part in the exercise. Britain received a formal request for participation in the operation late last month, and up to 30,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen may be dispatched to the region, though no deployments have yet taken place. Negotiations over Turkey's prospective role in any war continue, but the deployment of a U.S. inspection team to scrutinize potential U.S. bases in south-eastern Turkey, reported on Dec. 12, suggests that Turkey will likely allow use of its facilities.

There are continuing reports of clandestine U.S. and allied actions inside Iraq already. On Nov. 21, the Christian Science Monitor reported that the U.S. is recruiting for a 5,000 strong force to help topple the Iraqi government in Northern Iraq. On Oct. 25 it was reported by the Washington Times that the Central Intelligence Agency had established two field offices in the Kurdish controlled areas of Northern Iraq, while on Oct. 28 the London Sunday Times reported that Israeli special forces, Unit 262 or Sayeret Matkal, were hunting Scud missiles in western Iraq. This is the second report of such activity, with the London based Foreign Report having alleged much the same story in a report widely cited by various news sources in early October. In addition, Turkey maintains about 4,000 troops in Northern Iraq, including an armored battalion of about 40 tanks.

 
Equipment Moves

	Previous updates have noted a number of ship transfers of material. Since the last update, no new shipments from the United States have been reported, but two pre-positioning ships, USNS Watkins and USNS Watson, both usually based at Diego Garcia, have been unloading elements of a brigade set of equipment, including an armored battalion task force.
	The Navy has now requested at least eleven shiploads of military material since August.

 
KUWAIT

	The headquarters of Army Forces Central Command commanded by Lt. Gen. David D. McKiernan is located at Camp Doha.
	The headquarters of the Army’s V Corps from Heidelburg, Germany and the Marines’ I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton in California are now in Kuwait, in newly built camps in the Kuwaiti desert, participating in Exercise Internal Look. The Marines are continuing to expand their headquarters, named Camp Commando. The only remaining levels of command necessary to deploy are the division headquarters and further actual combat brigades.
	2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), is now in Kuwait, including around 5,000 troops equipped with M-1A2 main battle tanks, M-2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and M-109A6 Paladin artillery pieces. The brigade includes two armored battalion task forces and a mechanized infantry battalion task force. The 3rd Division's assault headquarters is also in Kuwait at present.
	2nd Brigade is relieving the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart (also with about 5,000 troops).
	one full brigade (3rd being relieved by 2nd) plus another brigade set of equipment. Each brigade or brigade set has about 116 M-1 Abrams tanks, 60 M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 100 armored personnel carriers, and 25 artillery pieces.
	Three aviation battalions, each with at least 25 helicopters, have arrived or about to arrive:
	2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment task force.
	6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (Apache attack helicopters).
	7th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (Apache attack, UH-60 transport, helicopters).
	A Special Forces company (100-200), and other Special Operations units are present.
	Elements of 3-43 Air Defense Artillery, equipped with Patriot missiles, have deployed from Fort Bliss in Texas to South West Asia, and there are other Patriot units in the area.
	There are numerous combat support and logistics units, including elements of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade.
	Advance party from British 1st Armored Division.
	Military nuclear, biological, and chemical defense efforts in Kuwait are being run by Combined Joint Task Force Consequence Management, under the command of U.S. Brig. Gen. Craig Boddington. This includes the Czech 4th NBC Defense Company, the U.S. 101st Chemical Company (Forward), and a German unit in Kuwait from the 7th Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Defense Battalion with six Fuchs biological & chemical warfare detection vehicles and around 50 personnel. However, in the event of a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq, the force may be withdrawn.
	U.S. Air Force 332nd Aerospace Expeditionary Group (AEG) is located at Ahmed Al-Jaber air base.
	386th Aerospace Expeditionary Group is stationed at Ali Al Salem air base in the south of Kuwait. About six British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR.4 attack aircraft are currently at Ali Al Salem, drawn from all UK-based Tornado squadrons. A squadron of RAF Regiment ground defense personnel is also at the base.
	Fighters from Air Expeditionary Force 7, including the 67th Fighter Squadron from Japan (F-15Cs), 14th Fighter Squadron from Japan (F-16CJs) and the 555th Fighter Squadron from Italy (F-16CGs) are now deploying to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
	Seabee personnel from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 have been deployed to Kuwait to assist with construction at two air bases.
	Total number of U.S. military in Kuwait may now be over 10,000.

 
JORDAN

	Jordan provides basing and permits overflights by all U.S. and coalition forces.
	1,400 U.S. Special Operations troops, almost certainly including Army Special Forces,were exercising in the country as part of Exercise Early Victor '02, which began on Oct.6. Jordanian, Omani, Kuwaiti and British troops also took part in the exercise.
	Brig. Gen. Gary L. Harrell, commander Special Operations Forces Central Command, last reported in Jordan Oct. 15.

 
BAHRAIN

	The top Marine general for Central Asia and the Persian Gulf is Lt. Gen. Earl B. Hailston, who is CENTCOM's Marine Component commander (MARCENT) for all Marine forces in the Pacific. He has his headquarters and staff in Bahrain.
	Vice Adm. Timothy J. Keating, who served as deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 17 in support of Operation Desert Storm, is CENTCOM's Naval Component Commander (NAVCENT) for all naval forces in the region. His 5th Fleet headquarters is in Manama, Bahrain.
	Task Force 50, stationed in the Gulf, is the 5th Fleet’s Battle Force. It also conducts Maritime Interception Operations and enforces UN sanctions against Iraq. It's most important component currently is the USS Constellation carrier battle group, that group has just relieved the USS Abraham Lincoln's group. Lincoln and her escorts are now in the Indian Ocean heading home. The Constellation group includes the carrier itself, Carrier Air Wing 2, the cruisers USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and USS Valley Forge (CG 50), the destroyer USS Higgens (DDG 76), the frigate USS Thach (FFG 43), the attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771), and the USS Rainer (AOE 7), a combat support ship, as well as ships attached to the Australian group noted below. The ships of the group are probably spread across the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea carrying out a variety of missions. The destroyer USS Fletcher (DD 992) will return to the Middle East after a crew swap-over.
	Under the command of Australian Captain Peter Jones in the northern Gulf, a task unit is conducting maritime interdiction operations sometimes very close to Iraq shores. It includes the Australian frigates Anzac and Darwin, alongside U.S. ships such as the USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and USS Reuben James (FFG 57) and the Polish support ship Kontradmiral X. Czernicki
	There is also a Canadian led subordinate task group of Task Force 50 conducting maritime interdiction operations in the Arabian Sea. It has included on occasion the U.S. frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59).
	Task Force 53, the headquarters for Navy logistics in the area, is at Bahrain. Support ships that have been in the area recently include the San Jose, a stores ship, John Ericsson, a tanker, and the fleet ocean tug Catawba which is permanently stationed in the Gulf.
	The USS Nassau amphibious ready group, along with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is now in the Indian Ocean, having mounted joint exercises with Kenya. The group comprises USS Nassau (LHA 4), USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and USS Austin (LPD 4).
	The USS Harry S. Truman battle group departed the U.S. East Coast on Dec. 5 en route to replace the Washington battle group, and is now in the Mediterranean.
	The USS Constellation carrier battle group from the West Coast has now deployed and is in the Indian Ocean heading for the Persian Gulf region. It includes a Coast Guard cutter, the Boutwell, which will however deploy with the USS Tarawa amphibious ready group, probably in early January.
	Four mine countermeasures vessels are assigned to the Fifth Fleet - USS Ardent (MCM 12), USS Cardinal (MHC 60), USS Dextrous (MCM 13), and USS Raven (MHC 61), all based at Bahrain. They form Mine Countermeasures Division 31.
	Four British Royal Navy minehunters, as well as a support ship, are being ordered to the Gulf from the Mediterranean. The ships include HMS Bangor, HMS Blythe, HMS Sandown, HMS Brockleby and the landing ship HMS Sir Bedivere in support.
	U.S. Navy and Coast Guard port security forces and inshore boat units are providing port and coastal security through the region.
	The United Kingdom has RAF Tri-Star refueling tankers at Bahrain airport
	The U.S. Navy has P-3 Orion anti-submarine and surveillance aircraft at Bahrain airport on detachment from Patrol Squadron One (VP-1), as well as EP-3 Aries reconnaissance variants detached from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1). There is a detachment of MH-53 helicopters supporting U.S. naval forces based there.
	Naval Special Warfare Unit 3, a SEAL force, is headquartered in Bahrain.

 
SAUDI ARABIA

	A Combined Aerospace Operations Center (CAOC) is located at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), at Al Kharj, south of Riyadh. This is a major command center.
	The 363rd Air Expeditionary Group is also stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base. It includes F-16s from the Montana Air National Guard and the 184th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron of the Arkansas Air National Guard.
	EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft of Marine squadron VMAQ-1 are split between PSAB and Al Udeid in Qatar.
	British Royal Air Force Tornado F.3 fighters, drawn from 43 Squadron, are also at PSAB.

 
QATAR

	Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley is CENTCOM's Air Force Component commander (CENTAF) for all Air Force assets in the region. He is now at Al Udeid Air Base, which is 19 miles outside of Doha, Qatar's capital.
	As Sayliyah, on the outskirts of Doha, is the site of the Central Command headquarters exercise Internal Look now under way.
	The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is located at Al Udeid. The base now has a 15,000 foot runway and hangers that can accommodate close to 100 aircraft. It is home to fighter/bomber aircraft, at least 11 air-to-air refueling aircraft, and JSTARS reconnaissance aircraft.
	Headquarters Special Operations Command Central Command appears to be located at Camp Snoopy, Qatar

 
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

	The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing is based at Al Dhafra, an hour outside Abu Dhabi, consisting of three reconnaissance squadrons:
— 12th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, a number of Global Hawk reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles.   — 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron.   — 763rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, KC-135s providing air-to-air refueling support.
	The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing is based at Al A detachment of Canadian Aurora maritime patrol aircraft is also reported in the United Arab Emirates.

 
OMAN - 1,150 miles to Baghdad

	Airlift hubs at Seeb and Thumrait are currently providing substantial support for the buildup.
	Masirah Island, the former RAF base, off the cost of Oman, is also another major airlift hub, and a major supply depot, housing the 355th Air Expeditionary Group and at least one squadron of AC-130 gunships. There is also a detachment of U.S. Navy P-3 Orions from Patrol Squadron One.
	The B-1 force in the area, with the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing, is now located in Oman, possibly at Thumrait.
	The British Royal Air Force has additional air refueling assets at Seeb to support the no-fly zone in Iraq.
	A full squadron, numbering up to 100, of the British Special Forces elite Special Air Service regiment is now reported in Oman.
	The Royal Australian Air Force is about to deploy two P-3 Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft into the region, which might well end up based in Oman or possibly Qatar.
	A new airbase has been under construction at Musnana'h, approximately 120 km. west of the capital Muscat, which has a 14,000-foot runway

 
TURKEY

	Incirlik Air Base near Adana hosts the 39th Wing and 4,000 U.S. military personnel assigned to support 50 F-15, A-10 and F-16 fighters, plus U.S. Navy EA-6 Prowler electronic warfare aircraft. from U.S. Navy squadron VAQ-209, which may be returning home soon.
	Elements of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing, which flies F-15s from Langley AFB, Va., are currently deploying to be on station from Dec. 1. nbsp;
	The 78th Fighter Squadron, from Shaw AFB, S.C., has recently deployed to Incirlik for northern no-fly zone patrol duties, flying F-16CJs.

 
DIEGO GARCIA

	40th Aerospace Expeditionary Wing is located at Diego Garcia with B-52 bombers and KC-135 aerial refueling tankers.
	Preparations for forward basing of B-2 Stealth bombers have been underway at Diego Garcia for some time, and also at RAF Station Fairford, Gloucestershire, in the United Kingdom. Recently, two shelters to house B-2s have been set up at Diego Garcia, and it can be assumed that personnel from the B-2’s operating unit, the 509th Bomb Wing, are present
	Task Group 57.2 of the 5th Fleet, a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol and surveillance force is present.
	There are also pre-positioned strategic sealift ships for the Army and Air Force. Two Army brigade sets plus a Marine brigade set and equipment to support Marine aircraft are located around the atoll.

 
DJIBOUTI

	A new headquarters, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, has been established on the basis of a headquarters element from 2nd Marine Division sent from Camp Lejeune, N.C. The force is directed more toward the war on terror (involving operations in Yemen) than toward Iraq.
	The command ship Mount Whitney, has now arrived in the area, will house the headquarters initially, but it will then probably move ashore to Djibouti.
	There are around 800 U.S. troops, including special operations forces, and probably including troops from the Army’s 5th Special Forces Group at Camp Le Monier, near Ambouli Airport in Djibouti city. Special operations aircraft and at least three helicopters are also at the base.
	The CIA is also operating two Predator unmanned aerial vehicles from the base.

 
ETHIOPIA and ERITREA

U.S. military activity is underway in both these countries. The port of Assab in Eritrea may become a base for U.S. activities directed toward Yemen.

 
Sources

Tony Allen-Mills, "Israeli SAS Goes On A Scud Hunt," (London) Sunday Times, Oct. 27, 2002.

"U.S. Military Grows in Djibouti", Associated Press, Sept. 30, 2002, http://www.djiboutipost.com/p/5f/3a7a44fedc78.html?id=f325b4

Bradley Graham, "U.S. Boasts Its Ability To Plan War," Washington Post, Oct. 12, 2002

Greg Jaffe, "U.S. Asks Britain To House B-2s At Island Base In Indian Ocean," The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 16, 2002.

Todd Purdum, "Saudis Indicating U.S. Can Use Bases If UN Backs War," New York Times, Sept. 16, 2002.

Cordesman, Anthony H., U.S. Forces In The Middle East, Resources and Capabilities, Boulder, CO; Westview Press, 1997.

Eli J. Lake, "CIA Puts Two Sites in Kurdish Areas," The Washington Times, Oct. 25, 2002.

Vernon Loeb, "U.S. Forces in Tampa Plan Qatar Exercises," The Washington Post, Sept. 12, 2002

Matthew Fisher, "U.S. will be ready for war by December," National Post, Oct. 9, 2002

Chris Tomlinson, "Poised to Strike, U.S. Forces Practice", Boston Globe (AP), Sept. 30, 2002

Sharon Weinberger, "Air Operations Center Could Be Quickly Moved," Aerospace Daily, April 16, 2002.

Hunter Keeter, "CENTCOM Boosting Command and Control Capability," Defense Daily International, April 5, 2002.

Rowen Scarborough, "Military 'Leaning Forward' To Gird For War With Iraq," The Washington Times, March 18, 2002.

"Navy Orders More Ships to Carry Gear to Gulf," Reuters, Oct. 14, 2002

Wayne Specht, "Air Base In Qatar Feature's Region's Longest Runway," Pacific Stars And Stripes, March 31, 2002.

Michael Sirak and Neil Barnett, "USA Looks To Expand Bases In Oman And Qatar," Defense Weekly, April 17, 2002.

Stratfor.com, "Oman open to closer U.S. military ties," hosted by www.worldnetdaily.com, Jan. 14, 2002.

U.S. Army, Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS-3)/Army Prepositioning Afloat (APA), DALO-FPP, Aug. 15, 2001

"FB-111A.Net's Updates", http://www.fb-111a.net/Updates.html

"Stealth Fighter Planes, Crew Members Deployed," Washington Times, Oct. 15, 2002

Rudi Williams, "Hispanic-American Service Members Honored", American Forces Press Service, Oct. 15, 2002, www.defenselink.mil

 

Colin Robinson CDI Research Analyst crobinson@cdi.org

Standard Version

  Previous U.S. Forces in the Middle East Updates

BACK TO THE TOP    TERRORISM PROJECT HOME    LINKS    CDI HOME