US forces increase mobility as Iran tensions heighten in Gulf

The United States has deployed mobile launchers for Patriot missiles at its al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US facility in the Middle East, amid growing concerns over a potential Iranian attack. Satellite imagery analyzed by defence experts indicates that the American military buildup in the region, ongoing since January, continues to intensify, Reuters reports.

According to William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, the Patriot missiles were observed mounted on M983 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) at the start of February. “The decision to do so gives the Patriots much greater mobility, meaning they can be moved to an alternative site or repositioned with greater speed,” Goodhind explained. The use of mobile trucks, rather than semi-static launcher stations, allows for rapid deployment in case of an Iranian strike or for defensive repositioning.

The increased military presence comes as US President Donald Trump signaled a potential escalation in response to stalled nuclear talks with Iran. On February 10 evening, a day before his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he is considering sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region if negotiations fail. Despite rising tensions, Trump struck an optimistic note, stating: “We can make a great deal, Netanyahu wants it too — he wants a good deal.”

Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, its support for regional proxy groups, and the suppression of internal dissent. Nonetheless, diplomatic efforts to avert conflict remain ongoing.

The US maintains a widespread military footprint in the Middle East, with bases in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Türkiye, and on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any strikes on Iranian territory could provoke retaliatory attacks against US installations.

Satellite imagery comparing January and early February shows a marked buildup of aircraft and other military equipment across the region. Iran has reportedly replenished its missile stockpiles following last summer’s conflict, during which Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and other military targets — a campaign the United States joined late in the operation. The country maintains underground missile complexes near Tehran, Kermanshah, Semnan, and along the Gulf coast.

In addition, the Iranian naval drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri was observed via satellite on January 27 approximately five kilometres from Bandar Abbas, and again near the port on February 10, signaling Tehran’s continued focus on strengthening its military presence in the Gulf.

By Vafa Guliyeva