Since 1990, the U.S. has always maintained a presence in and around the Persian/Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The UK also traditionally has a presence in the Gulf. Exactly what is there now?
In Iraq: 6,700+ U.S. and allied troops and supporting civilians
- Around 5,000 U.S. troops, primarily involved in training.
- As of 2017 the Pentagon has stopped providing the number of troops that are being deployed in Iraq citing security concerns.
- There are also probably U.S. civilians
- UK has 400 UK troops in non-combat roles and 1,000 civilians
“supporting counter-daesh operations.” - Germany has 160 soldiers
- Netherlands had 169 military and civilian staff
- Australia withdrew in 2018.
Kuwait:
- 10,000 troops in Kuwait (under CENTCOM?)
Bahrain:
- UK has a Type 23 frigate based there
- UK has four minesweepers based there.
- UK has a floating base.
Oman:
- Some British troops
- In March 2019, they performed a joint exercise with the Omani armed forces that included 5,500 British troops.
The Fifth Fleet:
- According to the USNI Fleet Tracker , they currently have 21 ships.
- This includes the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Kearserge (see below).
- 10,000 troops in Qatar (command assumed to be Fifth Fleet)
- 1,000+ Marines aboard the Kearsarge
- There are probably a number of submarines in the area.
Sending to the Gulf as of new reports of 10 May and after:
- Carrier Strike Group 12
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
- 65-70 aircraft (Carrier Air Wing 7)
- USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)
- Destroyer Squadron 2 with:
- USS Bainbridge (DDG-96)
- USS Mason (DDG-87)
- USS Nitze (DDG-94)
- sometimes submarines
- support vessels
- Passed through the Suez Canal on May 9.
- operating of the coast of Oman 16 May
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
- Amphibious Squadron 6
- USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
- 22nd MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit)
- A battalion+ of Marines
- USS Arlington (LPD-24)
- USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43)
- Off the coast of UAE near entrance to Gulf on 16 May
- One squadron of B-52s
- At Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
- Pictures of them landing on May 9
- Others elsewhere in “southwest asia” (Al Dhafra Air Base in UAE?)
- Maybe 12-24 aircraft
- Aircraft from the 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- At Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
- One Patriot Missile Battalion
- Originally a Patriot battery in the reports of 10 May.
- Appears to include forces that were already in the Gulf who extended their deployment.
- Maybe 16 launchers of 4 missiles
- Two U.S. destroyers entered the Persian Gulf on May 16
- USS McFaul (DDG-74)
- USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)
- Added to the deployed on 24 May
- One fighter squadron
- Reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft
- around 900 troops while another 600 are retained in the Gulf.
This listing was quickly cobbled together from open sources. It should not be quoted without verification.