U.S. Shifts Forces From Qatar to Israel as Iranian Attacks Kill 17 Troops
Updated
Updated · Council on Foreign Relations · Jul 21
U.S. Shifts Forces From Qatar to Israel as Iranian Attacks Kill 17 Troops
3 articles · Updated · Council on Foreign Relations · Jul 21
Summary
Dozens of U.S. aircraft and some personnel have been moved from Al Udeid in Qatar to bases in Israel, while U.S. forces in Jordan took two deaths last week.
170 miles from Iran, Al Udeid and other Gulf hubs sit within easy missile and drone range; Israel is about 1,100 miles away, giving more warning time and stronger air defenses.
At least 17 U.S. service members have been killed, roughly 500 injured and billions of dollars in equipment lost since the conflict with Iran began, underscoring pressure to disperse forces.
Retired former CENTCOM chief Frank McKenzie said the Gulf basing model is an outdated "artifact" and argued Washington should shift more capacity west, though new bases would be costly and politically difficult.
Qatar spent $1 billion-$2 billion to build Al Udeid and more than $6 billion maintaining it, but Congress and the Pentagon now face a broader debate over where to reposition U.S. forces.
After thousands killed and a truce already broken, can a new peace deal truly end the devastating war with Iran?
With the world's largest oil disruption underway, can a new peace deal prevent a global economic collapse?
As Iran deploys hypersonic missiles, how can the U.S. defend its troops against these next-generation threats?
July 2026 U.S.-Iran Escalation: Jordan Drone Strike, Rising American Deaths, and Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Overview
On July 17, 2026, Iran launched a drone attack on U.S. positions at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, marking a major escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. This was the first time Iran targeted Jordan since a recent cease-fire, showing a shift in Iranian tactics by using advanced, high-speed missiles. The strike killed two American service members, representing the first U.S. casualties from Iranian attacks since March. This incident triggered a new cycle of retaliation, with the U.S. responding forcefully and the conflict entering a more dangerous phase.