Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force Near Iran
President Trump has not authorized military action in Iran, but the United States has built up its presence in the region in recent weeks. Now it’s sending even more firepower.
Christoph KoettlEric SchmittAshley CaiRiley MellenDaniel Wood
By Christoph KoettlEric SchmittAshley CaiRiley Mellen and Daniel Wood
Published Jan. 29, 2026
Updated Feb. 18, 2026
Ship
Maps: Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force Near Iran - The New York Times
Note: Some U.S. ship locations are approximate.Source: New York Times reporting and analysis of satellite imagery, ship- and flight-tracking data.The New York Times
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has built up forces close to Iran, in what President Trump has referred to as an “armada.”
Mr. Trump is now deciding whether to take military action against Iran as soon as this weekend, officials said. But unlike last June, when the United States joined Israel in attacking nuclear sites in Iran, the president’s objectives are less clear.
The armada includes the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which is accompanied by three warships that are equipped with Tomahawk missiles and that were used to strike two of Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. The warships also carry air defenses. The carrier’s stealthy F-35 fighters and F/A-18 attack planes are well within striking distance of dozens of targets in Iran, if Mr. Trump were to order them into action.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/politics/trump-iran-us-military-maps.html