Satellite images captured by Planet Labs on 25/1 and published by the BBC on 28/1 show components of the Patriot system deployed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. These include multiple launchers, command vehicles, and radar units. This battery was not visible in satellite images taken on 17/1.
The US Department of Defense has not commented on the information.
The United States maintains a significant military presence in the Middle East, with approximately 50,000 personnel stationed in the region. Al Udeid Air Base, located near Iran, alone hosts about 10,000 soldiers. Washington also operates bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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Satellite images of Al Udeid Air Base on 17/1 and 25/1. *Photo: Planet Labs*
Data from open-source tracking websites indicates that the United States has recently deployed more military aircraft to the Middle East as tensions between the two countries and Iran escalate. President Donald Trump warned on 28/1 that Iran was running out of time to reach a nuclear agreement, following Tehran's declaration that it would not negotiate while under threat.
The BBC identified F-15 fighter jets and refueling aircraft among the planes dispatched to the Middle East. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft were observed operating near Iranian airspace, according to data from the civilian aviation tracking site FlightRadar24.
Military transport aircraft have also appeared in the Middle East, some reportedly carrying air defense systems. The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States has sent additional Patriot air defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to the region, aiming to enhance defensive capabilities against a potential Iranian attack.
Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles at Al Udeid in 6/2025, in retaliation for a previous US strike. The Iranian Army warned on 29/1 that many US bases in the Gulf "are within range of its medium-range missiles".
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Location of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. *Graphic: IEJ Media*
Additionally, the United Kingdom, a US ally, has deployed a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets to the Middle East to "enhance regional security". The US Air Force announced a major exercise called "Operation Agile Spartan" to demonstrate its ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain air combat power in the Middle East.
Stefan Watkins, an expert in tracking ships and aircraft via public data, noted that several early warning and reconnaissance aircraft, including E-3G and RC-135, which participated in last year's strike against Iran, have been deployed to the Middle East.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, announced on 26/1 that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group had begun its mission in the region.
By Pham Giang (Based on BBC, Militarnyi)
