File image.
China’s MizarVision on January 30 released fresh satellite images from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, providing a detailed look at the ongoing United States military buildup there amid rising tensions with Iran.
The military buildup started earlier in the month, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action if Iran killed protesters or carried out mass executions of prisoners.
With over 10,000 American troops, Al Udeid is considered one of the U.S. Central Command’s largest facilities in the Middle East.
Iran fired 14 ballistic missiles at the air base towards the end of the June war with Israel, after the U.S. attacked three of its nuclear facilities. Only one of the missiles impacted, destroying an advanced communication terminal. While all other missiles were intercepted, the strike still highlighted the vulnerability of the base.
An image released by MizarVision earlier this week revealed the deployment of an additional MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense system at Al Udeid.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
The more recent images show that the system has been reinforced with additional equipment, in addition to a NASAMS medium-range air defense system. The latter was likely deployed to protect the base, specifically the Patriot, from any drone attacks. It is possible that it came from the Qatari military, not from the U.S. military.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
In addition to the air defenses, the images show at least six C-17 Globemaster III military cargo planes and five KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling planes parked at the air base ramp. Besides these aircraft, the recently deployed RC-135V Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft can be seen.
More warplanes were deployed at Al Udeid after the images were taken, including an E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
Al Udeid is expected to play a key role in any attack on Iran, and while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both promised the Islamic Republic that their territories won’t be used by the U.S. to launch any strikes, Qatar has not done the same yet.
Iran, which has already vowed to respond to any attack with an open-war, will not likely hesitate to strike the air base with full force.
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the mullah’s will be taken down soon…if china or russia get in the way they will be destroyed too…heheheheh
you’re guna uninstall yourself when that don’t happen.
it was better they had rain missiles onto this yesterday.
this the best moment that russia and china like they did in vietnam star supplying weapons to iran (hypersonic) in order to defeat the us forces! but i think that russia as well as china only think in the business of their oligarchy rather than geopolitical interests
i believe they have been.