The Pentagon put more big pieces of its US military buildup against
Iraq into play last week: thousands of the army's elite 101st
Airborne Division flew to the region, a sixth aircraft carrier was
ordered to the Gulf, and B-2 bombers got deployment orders.
More than 225,000 US troops were spread from the eastern Mediterranean across the Gulf to Afghanistan, US defense officials said.
They include more than 111,000 troops in Kuwait, the main staging area for a possible invasion of Iraq.
Nearly 100 US navy vessels are in the Gulf region and the Mediterranean, navy officials said.
Pentagon officials have said that US planning for a possible war with Iraq calls for between 200,000 and 250,000 troops.
Following is a rough breakdown of the forces in the region, based on US defense sources:
KUWAIT
About 111,000 troops, mostly US army and marines, many of whom have been training in the desert near the Iraqi border.
The army's 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force are the anchor for the US ground forces massing for a possible southern invasion of Iraq. The army's 82nd Airborne Division also has a brigade combat team here. About 60,000 marines are ashore in Kuwait, marine officials said.
Two air bases are used by US and British forces in the region, Al-Jaber and Ali Salem.
SAUDI ARABIA
About 7,000 troops, mostly Air Force based at Prince Sultan Air Base in the desert south of Riyadh.
The numbers of US forces in Saudi has climbed notably amid reports that Riyadh has quietly agreed to allow the US to use a combined air operations center that opened at Prince Sultan Air Base in 2001. The base also is a hub for US fighter aircraft, E-3 AWACS radar planes, other surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft and air refueling planes.
NAVY
Some 46,000 sailors and marines are aboard a growing armada of US warships. The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk arrived in the Gulf, where it will join the carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Constellation.
Two more carriers, the USS Harry S Truman and the USS Theodore Roosevelt, are in the Mediterranean with their battle groups. The sailors and marines aboard those ships account for most of the 23,000 US forces deployed in the European Command's area of operations for possible action against Iraq.
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is scheduled to deploy Monday from San Diego to swap out the Lincoln. An amphibious assault group led by helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima departs Tuesday from Virigina.
Besides the carriers, the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet has 24 surface combatant ships, 20 amphibious assault ships, and 10 support ships. The Naples-based US Sixth Fleet has some 34 ships, including the two carriers.
QATAR
About 7,000 military personnel, mostly at Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha and at As Sayliyah army base outside the capital.
The US Central Command has installed a deployable headquarters at As Sayliyah, giving Army General Tommy Franks the option of using it to direct all US forces in case of a war.
BAHRAIN
More than 5,000 US forces, mostly US navy. US Fifth Fleet headquarters are located there, making it the nerve center for all US warships in the Red Sea, the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
About 1,200 US military personnel are in the Emirates, a stopping point for US naval vessels.
TURKEY
About 2,000 US troops. US and British air forces operate from Incirlik air base, flying patrols over northern Iraq to enforce a no-fly zone. In the past, about 50 US aircraft, mostly fighters, have been stationed there.
Turkish and US officials continued to haggle over an agreement to allow up to 20,000 US ground troops to move through Turkey's territory in the event of a war, officials say. With US aircrews and logistics troops, the total in Turkey could rise to some 40,000.
JORDAN
Jordan says its territory will not be used to invade Iraq. But US troops will man three Patriot anti-missile batteries to protect Amman against missile attack, diplomats said.
DJIBOUTI
About 1,600 US military personnel are based in this tiny state on the Horn of Africa, part of a counter-terrorism task force. A 400-member task force headquarters is aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney.
OMAN
About 3,000 US military personnel. Omani ports and airfields serve as important transit points for forces heading up the Gulf or to Afghanistan.
AFGHANISTAN About 10,000 US troops. These include forces from the crack 82nd Airborne Division. Another 4,000 US military personnel are in surrounding Central Asian countries and Pakistan - Sapa-AFP
More than 225,000 US troops were spread from the eastern Mediterranean across the Gulf to Afghanistan, US defense officials said.
They include more than 111,000 troops in Kuwait, the main staging area for a possible invasion of Iraq.
Nearly 100 US navy vessels are in the Gulf region and the Mediterranean, navy officials said.
Pentagon officials have said that US planning for a possible war with Iraq calls for between 200,000 and 250,000 troops.
Following is a rough breakdown of the forces in the region, based on US defense sources:
KUWAIT
About 111,000 troops, mostly US army and marines, many of whom have been training in the desert near the Iraqi border.
The army's 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force are the anchor for the US ground forces massing for a possible southern invasion of Iraq. The army's 82nd Airborne Division also has a brigade combat team here. About 60,000 marines are ashore in Kuwait, marine officials said.
Two air bases are used by US and British forces in the region, Al-Jaber and Ali Salem.
SAUDI ARABIA
About 7,000 troops, mostly Air Force based at Prince Sultan Air Base in the desert south of Riyadh.
The numbers of US forces in Saudi has climbed notably amid reports that Riyadh has quietly agreed to allow the US to use a combined air operations center that opened at Prince Sultan Air Base in 2001. The base also is a hub for US fighter aircraft, E-3 AWACS radar planes, other surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft and air refueling planes.
NAVY
Some 46,000 sailors and marines are aboard a growing armada of US warships. The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk arrived in the Gulf, where it will join the carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Constellation.
Two more carriers, the USS Harry S Truman and the USS Theodore Roosevelt, are in the Mediterranean with their battle groups. The sailors and marines aboard those ships account for most of the 23,000 US forces deployed in the European Command's area of operations for possible action against Iraq.
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is scheduled to deploy Monday from San Diego to swap out the Lincoln. An amphibious assault group led by helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima departs Tuesday from Virigina.
Besides the carriers, the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet has 24 surface combatant ships, 20 amphibious assault ships, and 10 support ships. The Naples-based US Sixth Fleet has some 34 ships, including the two carriers.
QATAR
About 7,000 military personnel, mostly at Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha and at As Sayliyah army base outside the capital.
The US Central Command has installed a deployable headquarters at As Sayliyah, giving Army General Tommy Franks the option of using it to direct all US forces in case of a war.
BAHRAIN
More than 5,000 US forces, mostly US navy. US Fifth Fleet headquarters are located there, making it the nerve center for all US warships in the Red Sea, the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
About 1,200 US military personnel are in the Emirates, a stopping point for US naval vessels.
TURKEY
About 2,000 US troops. US and British air forces operate from Incirlik air base, flying patrols over northern Iraq to enforce a no-fly zone. In the past, about 50 US aircraft, mostly fighters, have been stationed there.
Turkish and US officials continued to haggle over an agreement to allow up to 20,000 US ground troops to move through Turkey's territory in the event of a war, officials say. With US aircrews and logistics troops, the total in Turkey could rise to some 40,000.
JORDAN
Jordan says its territory will not be used to invade Iraq. But US troops will man three Patriot anti-missile batteries to protect Amman against missile attack, diplomats said.
DJIBOUTI
About 1,600 US military personnel are based in this tiny state on the Horn of Africa, part of a counter-terrorism task force. A 400-member task force headquarters is aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney.
OMAN
About 3,000 US military personnel. Omani ports and airfields serve as important transit points for forces heading up the Gulf or to Afghanistan.
AFGHANISTAN About 10,000 US troops. These include forces from the crack 82nd Airborne Division. Another 4,000 US military personnel are in surrounding Central Asian countries and Pakistan - Sapa-AFP
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