US-Iran conflict and its impacts on US military reach

To dominate continents and countries, and to project force in pursuit of political, geostrategic, economic and military objectives, great powers have always resorted to basing their power potential globally. The US, the only global hegemon - to use International Relations parlance from the Offensive Realism Theory - does so by basing its military forces around the world. It maintains military bases and outposts, alone or in collaboration with host nations, in and around its areas of interest; maintains and modernises its fleet of long-range strategic bombers; operates aircraft (ac) carrier-based ground (Marine) and air forces; and deploys long-range conventional and non-conventional (nuclear) missiles on the ground, in the air, and over and under the sea. Neutralisation of any base or platform impacts US military potential until necessary repairs, maintenance, rest and recuperation are completed and the base or platform is fully restored.

In the war against Iran, the US initially operated in conjunction with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) undertaking joint planning/execution, intelligence-sharing and logistics. The US used drones and Patriot munitions in air defence (AD) interception mode, as well as long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from land bases and sea-borne aircraft carrier groups. Additionally, it deployed the US Air Force (USAF) from carriers, the continental US and land bases in the Middle East (ME).

A look into Washington's assets is instructive.

First, the ac carriers. The US Navy as per law is required to maintain a fleet of minimum 11 active carrier groups. And it maintains 11 nuclear-powered operational ac carriers in its global deployment. These carriers operate within the 5th Fleet (Middle East), 6th Fleet (Europe/Mediterranean) and 7th Fleet (Indo-Pacific). However, as of August 2026, a large number of carriers is deployed to the ME theatre to render support against Iran in Operation 'Epic Fury'. This causes unique strategic trade-offs and rotational challenges for the US power globally. For example, the USS Abraham Lincoln has now continuously operated in the Arabian Sea, for over 260 days, in combat against Iran. Following reported cases of low morale due to a lack of rest, relief, food, electricity and functional plumbing - as well as some damage sustained from Iranian drones - the USS Abraham Lincoln is now preparing to return home once relieved by the USS George Washington, which is en route to the Gulf from East Asia. Another carrier group enforcing naval blockade against Iran is USS Goerge H.W. Bush. With the commitment of three carrier groups in the ME, East Asia becomes vulnerable for having no ac carrier.

The remaining eight carriers are in various stages of the Inter-deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), or undergoing long-term shipyard maintenance, overhauls and upgrades. USS Theodore Roosevelt is training off the US West Coast. USS Nimitz is due to retire after its farewell 'Southern Seas' tour around South America. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is undergoing routine training and sustainment cycles. USS Carl Vinson is available for post-deployment after finishing its Pacific rotations. USS Gerald Ford is docked for scheduled maintenance and upgrades, after operations in the Mediterranean. USS Ronald Reagan is at Norfolk Naval Station undergoing planned maintenance after returning from Japan. USS Harry Truman is in pre-deployment window. Whereas USS John C. Stennis is undergoing multi-year Refuelling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) to change its nuclear fuel. State of the art, next generation USS John F. Kennedy is completing sea trials and would replace USS Nimitz. In a nutshell, the US Navy has two carriers in the Gulf (USS Washington and Bush), and two more (Vinson and Truman) available for the entire globe with some time delay.

Maximum physical capacity of the two supercarriers (USS Washington and Bush) in the Iran theatre is up to 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. However, during routine deployments, both ships carry a standardised contingent of 60 to 75 ac, to keep the flight deck and hangar bay clear, ensuring maximum launch-and-recovery. Sortie Generation Rate (SGR) is 'around' 250 per carrier for 24 hours period, once calculated at 75% of the available aircraft numbers (serviceability), to allow maintenance, reload, pilot's rest, etc.

Second, military bases. America operates approximately 750 military bases across roughly 80 countries and territories to protect trade routes, project power and support security alliances like NATO. Its geographic concentration is across Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region. The Department of Defense controls these bases in three commands. The Asia-Pacific (Indo-Pacific) Command in Japan has over 120 active sites including Yokosuka Naval Base (home of the 7th Fleet) and Kadena Air Base. Camp Humphreys in South Korea is the largest overseas US installation, and a massive hub for the US Army. Guam (US Territory) is a strategic launchpad having Guam Naval Base and Andersen Air Force Base.

European Command supports NATO's collective defence and provides logistics. It maintains Ramstein Air Base, Stuttgart, Germany, as a primary logistical and airlift hub for Europe, which is also home to Africa and European Command HQs. Aviano and Vicenza bases in Italy host USAF fighter squadrons and Army airborne infantry units. Rota Naval Station, Spain, facilitates maritime security operations in Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The Middle East (Central) Command is critical for counterterrorism, maritime security and regional stability. It hosts Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as the forward headquarters of CENTCOM, and the largest US military facility in the ME. Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Horn of Africa, is the only permanent American military base on the African Continent, tasked to protect shipping through the vital Bab-el-Mandeb Strait from Houthis. And Bahrain in home to the US 5th Fleet, overseeing Gulf's oil and shipping lanes.

Iran, as part of its debatable strategy, has successfully targeted US military assets across the ME, firing intense barrages of over 2,000 ballistic and cruise missiles, precise drones, etc. Hitting at least 20 US military sites in eight countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Iran has destroyed over 228 military structures and pieces of equipment, costing around 13 billion dollars in damages. It has caused base evacuations, personnel removals and shifting manpower to hotels, exposing unprecedented vulnerabilities in the US regional infrastructure, and its ME security umbrella. Consequently, Pentagon is considering permanent reduction in the American military footprint in the Gulf.

We continue the debate next week.