A Great War is coming? Americans stationed 40,000 soldiers; Warships at key points

CNN provides an overview of the positions of US forces, ready to help ally Israel and protect US interests in the region, all while the world is buzzing about the Great War.

"We will never hesitate to protect our forces and interests in the Middle East and to support the defense of Israel and our partners in the region," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated recently, after US forces again moved to help defend Israel against Iran's attacks.

It was the second time this year that US forces helped Israel intercept missiles from Iran. Analysts note that US support for Israel is crucial to the country's security, regardless of the superiority of Israel's military training, equipment, finances and intelligence apparatus compared to neighboring countries.

In addition, US forces act as a deterrent against attacks on Israel, which has existed in a hostile environment since its inception.

On October 1, Tuesday, two US Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean fired approximately 12 interceptors aimed at stopping nearly 200 Iranian missiles fired at Israel in retaliation for the attack on Lebanon.

"I am proud of the skill and courage of the American forces," Austin commented at the time.

US forces were themselves targeted multiple times earlier this year. Local militant groups, mostly financed by Iran, have carried out low-intensity attacks on US targets in Iraq and Syria. Those attacks have decreased in recent months, CNN writes.

However, today the region is dancing on the edge of the abyss and an unprecedented escalation of the conflict is underway. By August, the total number of American troops in the Middle East was about 40,000.

Still, the US wants to make clear that large-scale attacks would provoke a strong response.

In early August, the Pentagon announced the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the region, which arrived later that month. The strike group consists of thousands of sailors and marines, spread over three destroyers and an aircraft carrier wing.

In early October, the aircraft carrier Lincoln, its air wing (consisting of eight squadrons) and the O'Kane, one of the guided-missile destroyers in the aforementioned strike group, were in the Gulf of Oman.

The warships Spruance and Frank E. Petersen Jr., also guided-missile destroyers that are part of the strike group, were operating in the Red Sea.

Strike groups like the Abraham Lincoln are key components of American naval power. In addition to the firepower brought by the Lincoln Strike Group, the Navy has several other destroyers and additional capabilities in the region.

Amphibious Battle Group (ARG) Wasp, specialized in sea-land military operations (which includes humanitarian missions), and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), designed for rapid mobilization and flexibility, consists of approximately 4,500 Sailors and Marines.

The MEU is one of America's main crisis response forces; one of its key tasks is the ability to evacuate civilians, i.e. American citizens.

In 2006, the MEU evacuated thousands of Americans from Lebanon following the outbreak of a previous war between Israel and Lebanon.

In early October, ARG and MEU forces - as well as the warships Bulkeley, Cole and Arleigh Burke - were operating in the eastern Mediterranean. The battleships Murphy, Indianapolis, and Stockdale operated in the Red Sea. With numerous air forces already in the region – including fighters, transport planes and tankers – the Pentagon announced a week ago that it was sending additional air forces to the Middle East.

Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said last Monday that this would include F-22, F-16, F-15E and A-10 aircraft with their associated personnel. We are talking about an additional few thousand soldiers.

US Central Command said last Tuesday that one squadron of aircraft had already arrived in the region and that three more were on their way.

In addition, the US military has thousands of conventional ground troops in the Middle East, air defense and artillery, including Patriot missile systems, anti-drone systems and high-mobility multi-barrel missile systems (HIMARS).

Biden on preventing a potential "All-out War"

U.S. President Joseph Biden said that he does not believe that there will be "all-out war" in the Middle East.

When asked by a journalist how confident he is that such a war can be prevented, he responded with the question: "How sure are you that it won't rain."

"Look, I don't believe there will be an all-out war. I think we can avoid that, but a lot still needs to be done," Biden said, according to Reuters.

When asked if he would send the US army to help Israel, he said that the US had already helped that country and would protect it.

He added that the US is considering strikes on Iranian oil facilities in retaliation for Tehran's missile attack on Israel.