US European bases play key role in operations against Iran

The United States is operating drones targeting Iran from the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, The Wall Street Journal reports.

In recent weeks, American bombers, drones, and naval vessels have been refueled, armed, and launched from military bases across Europe, including locations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Italy, France, and Greece. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is currently stationed at a naval base in Greece for maintenance.

Europe hosts roughly 40 US military bases, accommodating approximately 80,000 personnel. These installations serve as critical staging points for US operations across the Middle East and Africa.

The report emphasizes that, despite US President Donald Trump’s frequent criticism of European allies, Operation Epic Fury highlights the strategic cost the United States would incur if it were to fully withdraw its forces from the continent.

By Vafa Guliyeva