The United States is shifting military resources in the Middle East in response to Israel’s strikes on Iran and a possible retaliatory attack by Tehran.

After Israel launched an attack on Iran, the United States has begun moving its military resources towards the Middle East, considering the possibility of a retaliatory attack by Iran. Here are more details.

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

The United States has pulled some diplomatic staff and military families out of the Middle East, citing unspecified regional security risks.

U.S. embassies and military bases across the Middle East are on high alert, as fears grow about an Israeli strike on Iran.

As of mid-2025, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 US troops in the Middle East, comprising personnel stationed in both large, permanent bases and smaller forward sites across the region.

The collapse of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Assad presented an “opportunity” for Israel to expand its war across the Middle East.

The S&P 500 ended lower on Wednesday, with investors spooked by Middle East tensions, while a tame inflation report calmed concerns around tariff-driven price pressures and traders awaited more details on China-U.