Trump's big headache? U.S faces mounting risk to 40,000 troops in Middle East as Iran threatens response

If the United States joins the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, the Pentagon would be confronting a major issue regarding the fate of more than 40,000 US soldiers already deployed around the Middle East along with other US citizens who live and work in the region, as per a report.
US Troops in the Line of Fire
The United States troops stationed in between bases from Bahrain to Syria would be the most vulnerable to counterattacks, which might involve Iranian ballistic missiles, drones or terrorism if the US joins Israel to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, reported USA Today.
A US Defense official told USA Today that Iran can strike 'all of them,' as quoted in the report. The fear comes as even previously Iran had launched 13 ballistic missiles at US troops in Iraq in January 2020, wounding around 100 US troops, according to the report.
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Will United States Join the War?
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump did not dismiss the possibility of entering the ongoing war, as he said on Wednesday, 'I may do it. I may not do it," adding, "I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," quoted USA Today.
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Pentagon Moves to Protect Americans Abroad
As per the report, in case the United States launches a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the potential weapon the US could use is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a bomb that can burrow deep into the earth before unleashing a huge explosion.
With the aim to increase protection for Americans in the Middle East, the Pentagon has started shifting more firepower to the region this week, including the
USS Nimitz aircraft carrier
strike group, which is expected to be arriving in a few days, according to USA Today.
A US official in anonymity told USA Today that the added warplanes from the Nimitz and others in the region would be able to deliver a devastating response in Iran if they did attack US troops, as quoted in the report.
FAQs
How many US troops are at risk in the Middle East?
Over 40,000 US soldiers are currently stationed at bases from Bahrain to Syria, as per USA Today report.
Why are they in danger?
If the US joins Israel in striking Iran's nuclear sites, Iran could retaliate against American troops using missiles, drones, or terror attacks, as per the report.

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