Latest news with #DaNang
CNA
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Must-see sights, street food tours and fine dining: How to spend 72 hours in Da Nang, Vietnam
The late, great chef, traveller and raconteur Anthony Bourdain loved Vietnam like few other destinations. He filmed eight programmes there and memorably said of the country: 'Vietnam. It grabs you and doesn't let go. Once you love it, you love it forever.' It's impossible to disagree with his much-missed wisdom and a 72-hour hop to the central coastal city of Da Nang, the country's third largest just a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Singapore, showcases how Vietnam blends food, culture, landscapes and history to such dazzling effect. WHERE TO STAY During the Vietnam War – or the American War, as locals understandably call it – Son Tra Mountain was known as Monkey Mountain thanks to residents including red-shanked douc langurs. Today these beautiful primates, who look like they're wearing knee-high red socks, enjoy the peaceful surrounds of their mountainside nature reserve that is also home to one of southeast Asia's most spectacular resorts, Intercontinental DaNang Sun Peninsula Resort. It's the only resort in Vietnam with its own funicular tram. The Nam Tram lets guests glide effortlessly from the perfect curving arc of a private beach up to the elegant, expansive main building with all the hallmarks of starchitect Bill Bensley's quirky design motifs blending Vietnamese and French colonial era influences. If the resort has shades of the most recent series of White Lotus, that's because Bensley also designed the hillside Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, which features in the show, along very similar lines. Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea are the four levels across 39 hectares, home to 189 expansive rooms, villas and suites with gorgeous sea views and colourful interiors. There are several large infinity pools, including one which is adults-only, a sublime spa, nature walks and other experiences to keep guests of all ages entertained. STREET FOOD A brilliant way to get a real feel for Da Nang comes with a small group guided food tour led by bilingual young Vietnamese who are thrilled to share their region's dishes with international visitors. The excellent Helen from @danangcuisine led ours, taking us to four spots serving up local classics, starting with the iconic Da Nang noodle dish, mi quang. The genius comes in the layers of textures and flavours as fresh greens, banana blossom, herbs, rice noodles and shrimp all vie for your palate's attention in a slow-boiled broth made of pork, beef, fish and chicken bones, finished with turmeric. You're not done yet, however, as a squeeze of lime for acidity, the optional zing of coriander and crunchy peanuts and rice crackers complete the sensory journey. Banh xeo was the other standout in the two-and-a-half-hour tour, enjoyed at what many consider the city's best, Banh Xeo Ba Duong. Savoury crispy pancakes – the Vietnamese name comes from the sizzle or "xeo" as they cook – are layered in rice paper with options including smoky grilled pork skewers and fresh herbs. Then dunk them in an addictive brown sauce made from pig liver, peanuts, chili, garlic, shrimp paste and more. There are, naturally, countless other places to choose from for local dishes at scarcely believable prices, so the tried and trusted mantra of simply looking where there are plenty of customers invariably does the trick. EXPERIENCES AND EXCURSIONS Da Nang is a large port city with an impressive tree lined boulevard along its substantial main beach, My Khe, which offers dozens of places to kick back, chill, or eat and drink. As with so many destinations, simply getting lost amongst the maze of streets is a huge draw, watching daily life and the quirks of local culture play out. Dragon Bridge in the centre of the city is unmissable, especially when illuminated at night, and also allows for a visit to Son Tra Da Nang Night Market which features street food and trinket vendors. Another bridge, Golden Bridge, has also become a hugely popular draw, thanks to a 500m span seemingly held aloft by two vast stone hands. Sitting west of Da Nang, it's a slightly surreal experience as it lies within an amusement park called Ba Na Hills which also features the world's longest cable car, amongst many other attractions. Above all, no visit to Da Nang is complete without heading 35 minutes down the coast to the ancient merchant town of Hoi An. It's rightly one of central Vietnam's most iconic sights and well worth a day of your time to explore its beguiling lantern-filled laneways, waterways, seventeenth century Japanese bridge, pagodas and French colonial mansions. SHOPPING Hoi An is where you'll want to indulge in retail therapy as it's especially well known for dozens of tailors offering off-the-rail or bespoke garments which are usually turned around and ready to pick up in less than 24 hours. They're happy to make copies of your favourite designs, or let you craft your own from seemingly endless swathes of materials. I avoided the main tourist heart of Hoi An, instead choosing a random shop called Simon the Tailor a couple of doors down from one of the town's most famous banh mi vendors, The Banh Mi Queen. The young team helped me choose a cut, fabric and finishes, and less than 24 hours later I had a beautifully tailored blazer delivered to my hotel, all for under US$70 (S$90). Galleries also abound, offering works of vastly differing quality, but there's sure to be something for every taste and price point. Lanterns and lights are another very popular draw, while for foodies a jar of Tuong Ot sticky chilli jam, unique to Hoi An, is a must. It's the perfect addition to the beloved local noodle dish, cao lau, of smoky pork and noodles, fresh herbs and bean sprouts. FINE DINING Dining in Vietnam simply doesn't get any finer than at the one-starred Maison 1888 at Intercontinental DaNang Sun Peninsula Resort. That's the case now more than ever as culinary legend Christian le Squer, from the three Michelin-starred Le Cinq in Paris, oversees the tasting menus which are beautifully crafted by Chef Florian Stein and his team. Stunning French dishes with Vietnamese accents included Japanese turbot cooked in brown butter, with grated pear. Gnocchi with saffron, black olives and basil broth was also sublime, especially paired with a Laurent Perrier Grande Cuvee from one of the country's finest wine cellars, awarded by Wine Spectator and led by a seriously impressive young Vietnamese sommelier, Toan Nguyen. Other high-end dining options include classic French with a seafood emphasis at Cabanon Palace, Cantonese at The Golden Dragon and Italian with Vietnamese twists at Si Dining. Then for those seeking Japanese, the brand new Tingara from Japanese chef Junichi Yoshida features a circular dining space overlooking the ocean, home to flawless teppanyaki and sushi omakase, paired with an enviable sake collection. GENERAL ADVICE Da Nang's climate ranges from a low of around 18 degrees Celsius in January to highs of 35 degrees Celsius in the peak of a sweltering summer. The dry season runs from January to August, while the wet season extends from September to December, with heaviest rainfall typically in October and November. Getting around is easiest via Grab which offers very reasonable fares, but if you're feeling more adventurous, rent a moped from a reputable company – and ensure you have good insurance.
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Vietnam approves plans for international financial centre amid US trade pressure
HANOI: Vietnam's lawmakers approved a plan on Friday (Jun 27) to establish international financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to attract investment and strengthen its global financial standing as economic uncertainties rise. The centres will operate under unified management, with Ho Chi Minh City focusing on capital, banking, and currency markets, and Danang on sustainable and green finance, leveraging its strategic location near East-West economic corridors, the government said in a statement. Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang called the policies "innovative and competitive", noting their alignment with international standards, the statement added. A key feature will allow members of the centres to secure international financing and use foreign currency for transactions. Vietnam's foreign investment inflows rose 7.9 per cent to US$8.9 billion in the first five months of the year, while pledges surged 51.1 per cent to US$18.4 billion, the government said. However, the United States has threatened to impose 46 per cent tariffs on Vietnamese exports unless concessions are made, which could slow the momentum. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said earlier this week that Vietnam expects to reach a trade deal with the United States within two weeks. The financial centres will adopt international accounting and financial standards, including capital adequacy and liquidity ratios for both domestic and foreign-owned banks, the government added. Vietnam remains a key manufacturing hub for global firms such as Samsung Electronics, Foxconn, Intel, Nike and Adidas.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everyone needs a champion like my whiskey neat-loving Granchar
Michael Caven is a practicing psychotherapist in Da Nang, Vietnam. He co-founded Out on Main, the nation's first LGBTQ themed restaurant in Columbus. My beloved Granchar was my very own Auntie Mame. We had our secrets because she understood me. 'We were all born bored, Mike-o,' she'd tell me. 'We need some excitement! Keep things interesting.' Granchar knew I was different. In secret, we'd apply clear nail polish to my dainty little fingers because I liked how it all made me feel—putting on nail polish and Granchar's Shalimar perfume were our delicious little secrets. But soon enough, my grandfather would realize what we were up to. Opinion: Dublin classmate's message wrecked me. We learned from same cruel teacher. 'He'll grow up to be a fruit!' he would bellow. But Granchar and I didn't care. Still, I liked the femininity of these games. 'Such a pretty girl,' she'd say. 'And I smell so pretty, too!' I exclaimed. Granchar was short for Grandma Charlotte Moore (I stuttered as a kid, so we settled on a shortened version). My grandfather, James Moore, was a judge in Marianna, their small town in the Florida Panhandle. The French Quarter in New Orleans and all the strange and weird happenings were catnip for my grandparents in the 1950s. They had a regular drag haunt, and on every visit, the flamboyant emcee planted a huge, wet, and drowning-in-red lipstick kiss smack on Grandpomp's lips, to his absolute delight. During my summer respites in Marianna from Long Island—my hometown— Granchar would take me to Tallahassee to see the latest John Waters film. More: What you need to know about Jon Waters Her best friend Eloise was the mother of drag icon Divine's longtime make-up artist Van Smith. 'I love my specials,'Granchar would say, curating pink flamingos on her front lawn on Green Street in Marianna as a sign to local folk who don't fit in that they are welcome to share their stories with her. She'd listen intently with a cigarette in one hand and a whiskey neat in the other. 'Hey Trans.' I shuddered when the neighborhood bully back on Long Island called me that name. My parents were doing the best they could to bulldoze the "homo" out of me, despite my frequent adolescent fantasies about Bruce Jenner. My deep fear that classmates would hear that name and taunt me came true, and I was devastated. I tried to kill myself with mom's tranquilizers and pain pills, but only got sick. My stepfather took me to the garage and had me punch the punching bag over and over with instructions that the next day I'd sucker punch the bully on the school bus. I did, and we pummeled each other all the way to school. I never heard the name "Trans" again. I'm not condoning physical violence. Still, I found the physical altercation terrifying and strangely empowering. Years later, I'd co-found Out on Main, the nation's first LGBTQ themed restaurant, in Columbus. And of course Granchar loved sitting at our bar, cigarette and whiskey in hand, and hold court surrounded by a dozen admirers. 'You have the coolest grandmother ever,' one of her fans told me. 'I know,' I replied. 'I am so lucky.' And I no longer shudder when I hear the word trans. I wish everyone had a Granchar to champion them. If you are questioning your gender, identity, or sexual orientation, there are supportive organizations in central Ohio like Stonewall Columbus, Kaleidoscope Youth Center and Equality Ohio,to name a few. And if you look hard enough, you'll find your very own Granchar. My Granchar rests in peace in St. Luke's Episcopal Church cemetery, off Lafayette Street in Marianna, alongside my grandfather. Nearby is Gov. John Milton, a villain of the Civil War. I prefer to think that Granchar is spilling the tea at the Out on Main in the sky with her special angels. Happy Pride, everyone. Michael Caven is a practicing psychotherapist in Da Nang, Vietnam, and co-founder of Out on Main, the nation's first LGBTQ themed restaurant in Columbus. His memoir-in-development, "Spilling the Tea," chronicles his adventures at Out on Main and a Texas gay bar empire. His website is This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: There's a champion like my Granchar for Columbus LGBTQ people | Opinion
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
US military power amassed in Middle East amid soaring Iran tensions
Da Nang, a port city in Vietnam, had been bracing to receive the behemoth USS Nimitz aircraft carrier this week when the ship suddenly appeared to change course. The 1092ft vessel had been conducting 'routine' security operations in the Indo-Pacific when it was called away from its duties and started heading west, towards the burgeoning firefight between Israel and Iran, U.S. officials said. A White House spokesperson assured that U.S. forces in the Middle East remained in a 'defensive posture', despite the flurry of activity. But President Donald Trump has been more bellicose, warning Tehran that if the U.S. is attacked in any way, 'the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before'. Iran has threatened to drag the United States into the conflict by attacking their bases in the region should Washington intervene on Israel's behalf. Britain and France, with smaller strongholds in the Middle East, were also name-checked in the warning. It could be a brazen bluff from what remains of Tehran's military leadership, anticipating that another war in the Middle East would sit poorly with American voters. But it is not without precedent. Iran struck a key foothold in Iraq with ballistic missiles in 2020, and proxy groups are already believed to have sent drones to antagonise the airbase since Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran on Friday. While Trump has sought a reduced role for the military in policing the Middle East, U.S. bases remain scattered across the region - the legacy of assuming Europe's role in the area through the Cold War and into the 21st century. Today, there are an estimated 46,000 American troops across the Middle East, joined by fleets of ships and jets - some state-of-the-art, others battle-hardened after decades of fierce fighting in the desert. As tensions continue to escalate, the Trump administration is seeking to bolster American capabilities in the region even further. As world leaders meeting at a G7 summit on Monday called a de-escalation of a rapidly spiralling confrontation between Israel and Iran, Donald Trump took a different tone. In comments on board Air Force One during his midnight departure from Canada, the U.S. president said he wanted a 'real deal' to end Iran's nuclear programme - but caveated that he 'never said I was looking a ceasefire'. Hours later, Trump remained resolute as he touched down on U.S. soil. He reiterated plainly: 'I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire.' He said he was looking for 'an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.' Since Friday, the conflict has been limited to unilateral strikes by Israel against Iran, and Iran in turn returning fire. Trump predicted that Israel would not let up anytime soon, telling CBS: 'You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far.' The United States has so far maintained a defensive posture. It did help Israel with air defence by shooting down incoming ballistic missiles and drones heading towards Israel. But Trump was also said to have vetoed an Israeli opportunity to kill Iran's supreme leader - a sign, perhaps, of restraint. Bases scattered across the region threaten to upend that. Sources told Axios in recent days that the Trump administration has said it does not plan to get actively involved in the war - unless Iran targets Americans. Thousands of American troops remain in the area. Troops levels fluctuate, but there are estimated to be 46,000 American military personnel still in the region. There are military facilities across at least nineteen sites, eight of them considered permanent. Still, this is a far cry from the 160,000 coalition troops sent into Iraq during the initial invasion - a fraction of the personnel needed to prosecute a war. But the U.S. has sought to reinforce its numbers in recent days, sending dozens of Stratotanker refuelers and at least 12 F-22 and F-35s east via Europe. Iran would risk hurting its own economy or provoking another military power with an attack on foreign soil. But recent history shows the regime in Tehran is not beyond striking an American base in a third party nation if pressed. Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Al Udeid is the United States' largest military base in the Middle East, built in the wake of the first Gulf War. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the base has acted as the main hub for American and British air operations in the Persian Gulf, hosting some 11,000 American troops and more than 100 aircraft, including strategic bombers, tankers and surveillance assets. Today, Al Udeid is the operational headquarters of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East and a key site for the US Air Force (USAF). The US Department of Defence says it was used as the primary staging ground for most air operations in the campaign to defeat ISIS. The air base covers 12.3 sq-km and supports two runways, each 3,750 metres in length. They are, as a result, able to accommodate every aircraft the U.S. has at its disposal. Al Udeid is still home to more than 90 combat and support aircraft, The National reports , including B-52 bombers, KC-135s refuelers, and MQ-9 Reaper Drones. Qatar has spent around $8bn modernising the base in recent years, including $1.4bn on troop housing and airfield improvements, The Hill reports . An Iranian strike on Al Udeid would agitate the generally cordial relationship Tehran has with Doha. Qatar, like Kuwait, has reportedly restricted the use of bases for operations against Iran. But Al Udeid would be a useful launchpad for the U.S. to wage war in the Middle East today. Retired Brigadier General Steve Anderson told CNN that Al Udeid is 'probably the most significant' site in the region, hosting 'quite a number of F-16s, F-35s that can fly out of there'. Ain Al-Assad airbase, Iraq Ain Al-Assad base was the second largest US military airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has remained a foothold for coalition forces, including British troops. There are an estimated 2,500 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, spread across facilities like Ain Al-Assad and Union III. Their future in the region had been called into question, the U.S. expected to resolve the coalition mission it started in 2014 to combat ISIS by September 2025. There were also some 900 U.S. troops were still in Syria as of September 2024 as part of the campaign. Ain Al-Assad appeared to have been targeted late last week as tensions in the Middle East reheat. The Associated Press reported that U.S. forces stationed at the airbase, in western Iraq, had come under attack from three drones on June 14. Analysts believe the drones would have been fired by Iran-backed proxies, rather than Tehran itself. The drones were intercepted before hitting their targets. Ain Al Assad was attacked by Iran in January 2020 during the largest ballistic missile attack on American forces in US history. Iran's attack was launched in retaliation for a US strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump on January 3, 2020, that killed top Islamic Revolutionary Guard General, Qassem Soleimani. Eleven warheads, each weighing about 1,600 lbs, struck the air base. Leaked military memos revealed last year suggest that US service members may also have been exposed to toxic and radioactive materials during the attack. USS Nimitz Strike Group U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea on Monday morning heading west after a reception for its planned port call in central Vietnam was cancelled. The carrier had planned to visit Danang City later this week, but two sources, including one diplomat, said a formal reception slated for June 20 had been called off. Exactly why was unclear. One of the sources said the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi had informed him about the cancellation, due to 'an emergent operational requirement'. Data from Marine Traffic showed the carrier on Monday morning was moving west in the direction of the Middle East, where the battle between Israel and Iran is escalating. The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world, measuring around 1090ft and hosting more than 5,000 personnel. Two nuclear reactors power the vessels, which are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots, with practically unlimited range. The inbound USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group will arrive with nine aircraft squadrons, the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer, and the Ticonderoga-Class Guided Missile Cruiser, according to the Department of Defence. Mr Anderson told CNN that, by his understanding, there are two destroyers within range to 'be able to support Israel right now', and '46,000 troops scattered across nine different installations all over the Middle East'. USS Carl Vinson Strike Group The USS Nimitz will join the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, hitherto stationed in the Gulf of Aden as a show of force to the Yemeni Houthi rebels. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is now in the Arabian Sea with the four warships in its strike group. They are not participating in the defense of Israel. The USS Nimitz has been long scheduled to take over for the Carl Vinson and is heading west from the Indo-Pacific region. The official said it is slated to arrive in the region by the end of the month, and the two carriers would likely overlap in the Middle East at least for a short time before the Vinson heads home to San Diego. The USS Carl Vinson travels with the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. It also has access to nine aircraft squadrons, including F-35C Lighting IIs, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands The United States sent an 'unprecedented' deployment of its heavy B-2 bombers to the Chagos Islands as tensions over nuclear talks with Iran grew in April. Six stealth bombers flew in to the U.S. airbase on Diego Garcia from Missouri in what was said to have been the 'largest single deployment in US history'. Asked at the time if the U.S. was gearing up to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said: 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren't successful I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran if that's the case.' The challenge will be refuelling bombers tasked with potentially travelling 3,500 miles from Diego Garcia to the Middle East, Mr Anderson explained. US Air Force tankers were deployed across the Atlantic on Sunday en route to the region. With the B-2 Bombers, the U.S. would be able to provide vital bunker busters, such as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (GBU-57), capable of penetrating up to 200ft and putting Iran's remaining nuclear sites in jeopardy. The U.S. had already been building up its military presence in the region amid ongoing clashes with the Yemeni Houthi rebels and ISIS in Syria. In May, the Pentagon sent fighter jets to the military base in the Indian Ocean to protect assets there, the War Zone military news website reported. A senior officer from U.S.-Indo Pacific Command said that F-15s had been deployed to 'provide force protection', without specifying how many. In March, satellite imagery showed C-17 cargo planes and KC-135 refueling tankers had been moved to Chagos. And by the end of the month, the U.S. said it had sent 'several' additional A-10 Warthogs to the Middle East, along with 300 airmen. Camp Arifjan, Kuwait The United States has a mixed-purpose military base in Kuwait, stationing parts of the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard as well as troops from the UK. The base today serves as the primary logistics, supply and command hub for US military operations in the Middle East. Announcing new warehouses to ensure combat ready equipment could be housed at the base in 2016, the army revealed there was approximately $5.5bn worth of equipment across the site. Naval Support Activity, Bahrain Naval Support Activity Bahrain, or NSA Bahrain, is home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, hosting approximately 8,300 military personnel, Department of Defence civilian staff and their families. The base is developed from the site of HMS Jufair, a Royal Navy outpost established during World War II and transferred to the United States in 1971. In the American era, the base was used to support operations during the War in Afghanistan and the Second Gulf War. Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia Andreas Papandreou Air Force Base, Cyprus A little over 100 miles from Beirut, Cyprus remains of real strategic importance to powers looking to project power in the Middle East. Marines were stationed at the American Andreas Papandreou AFB late last year, prepared for potential evacuations during Israel's strikes on Hezbollah. They brought with them a contingent of V-22 Osprey aircraft, Newsweek reports. Although Cypriot officials insisted that any use of the base by foreign forces would require local sign off and could not be used to coordinate military strikes. In January, one Cypriot official told the Associated Press that the USAF was looking to upgrade the air base for use as a humanitarian staging post in future operations. RAF Akrotiri, also on Cyprus, is Britain's largest air force base in the region. Some 2,220 British soldiers were stationed at bases on the island as of April last year, according to the Ministry of Defence. The British Army permanently deploys two infantry battalions to the bases on Cyprus. Incirlik Air Base, Turkey Incirlik is a Turkish airbase in Adana also used by the United States Air Force and, at times, the Royal Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force. Continued use depends on Turkish benevolence, however. President Tayyip Erdogan threatened to close down the base, which hosts U.S. nuclear warheads, in response to threats of U.S. sanctions in 2019. An estimated 50 American B61 nuclear bombs were stored at Incirlik Air Base. Thousands of U.S. troops stopped at Incirlik as a safe midpoint on the way back to their home post during the Second Gulf War.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
What are Trump's options to attack Iran?: How US has tens of thousands of troops in bases across the Middle East - as aircraft carrier steams to the Gulf amid growing fears Trump will wade into war
Da Nang, a port city in Vietnam, had been bracing to receive the behemoth USS Nimitz aircraft carrier this week when the ship announced that it was changing course. The 1092ft vessel had been conducting 'routine' security operations in the Indo-Pacific when it was called away from its duties and started heading west, towards the burgeoning firefight between Israel and Iran. A White House spokesperson assured that U.S. forces in the Middle East remained in a 'defensive posture', despite the flurry of activity. But President Donald Trump has been more bellicose, warning Tehran that if the U.S. is attacked in any way, 'the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before'. Iran has threatened to drag the United States into the conflict by attacking their bases in the region should Washington intervene on Israel's behalf. Britain and France, with smaller strongholds in the Middle East, were also name-checked in the warning. It could be a brazen bluff from what remains of Tehran's military leadership, anticipating that another war in the Middle East would sit poorly with American voters. But it is not without precedent. Iran struck a key foothold in Iraq with ballistic missiles in 2020, and proxy groups are already believed to have sent drones to antagonise the airbase since Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran on Friday. While Trump has sought a reduced role for the military in policing the Middle East, U.S. bases remain scattered across the region - the legacy of assuming Europe's role in the area through the Cold War and into the 21st century. Today, there are an estimated 46,000 American troops across the Middle East, joined by fleets of ships and jets - some state-of-the-art, others battle-hardened after decades of fierce fighting in the desert. As tensions continue to escalate, the Trump administration is seeking to bolster American capabilities in the region even further. As world leaders meeting at a G7 summit on Monday called a de-escalation of a rapidly spiralling confrontation between Israel and Iran, Donald Trump took a different tone. In comments on board Air Force One during his midnight departure from Canada, the U.S. president said he wanted a 'real deal' to end Iran's nuclear programme - but caveated that he 'never said I was looking a ceasefire'. Hours later, Trump remained resolute as he touched down on U.S. soil. He reiterated plainly: 'I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire.' He said he was looking for 'an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.' Since Friday, the conflict has been limited to unilateral strikes by Israel against Iran, and Iran in turn returning fire. Trump predicted that Israel would not let up anytime soon, telling CBS: 'You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far.' The United States has so far maintained a defensive posture. It did help Israel with air defence by shooting down incoming ballistic missiles and drones heading towards Israel. But Trump was also said to have vetoed an Israeli opportunity to kill Iran's supreme leader - a sign, perhaps, of restraint. Bases scattered across the region threaten to upend that. Sources told Axios in recent days that the Trump administration has said it does not plan to get actively involved in the war - unless Iran targets Americans. Thousands of American troops remain in the area. Troops levels fluctuate, but there are estimated to be 46,000 American military personnel still in the region. There are military facilities across at least nineteen sites, eight of them considered permanent. Still, this is a far cry from the 160,000 coalition troops sent into Iraq during the initial invasion - a fraction of the personnel needed to prosecute a war. But the U.S. has sought to reinforce its numbers in recent days, sending dozens of Stratotanker refuelers and at least 12 F-22 and F-35s east via Europe. Iran would risk hurting its own economy or provoking another military power with an attack on foreign soil. But recent history shows the regime in Tehran is not beyond striking an American base in a third party nation if pressed. Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Al Udeid is the United States' largest military base in the Middle East, built in the wake of the first Gulf War. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the base has acted as the main hub for American and British air operations in the Persian Gulf, hosting some 11,000 American troops and more than 100 aircraft, including strategic bombers, tankers and surveillance assets. Today, Al Udeid is the operational headquarters of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East and a key site for the US Air Force (USAF). The US Department of Defence says it was used as the primary staging ground for most air operations in the campaign to defeat ISIS. The air base covers 12.3 sq-km and supports two runways, each 3,750 metres in length. They are, as a result, able to accommodate every aircraft the U.S. has at its disposal. Al Udeid is still home to more than 90 combat and support aircraft, The National reports, including B-52 bombers, KC-135s refuelers, and MQ-9 Reaper Drones. Qatar has spent around $8bn modernising the base in recent years, including $1.4bn on troop housing and airfield improvements, The Hill reports. An Iranian strike on Al Udeid would agitate the generally cordial relationship Tehran has with Doha. Qatar, like Kuwait, has reportedly restricted the use of bases for operations against Iran. But Al Udeid would be a useful launchpad for the U.S. to wage war in the Middle East today. Retired Brigadier General Steve Anderson told CNN that Al Udeid is 'probably the most significant' site in the region, hosting 'quite a number of F-16s, F-35s that can fly out of there'. Ain Al-Assad airbase, Iraq Ain Al-Assad base was the second largest US military airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has remained a foothold for coalition forces, including British troops. There are an estimated 2,500 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, spread across facilities like Ain Al-Assad and Union III. Their future in the region had been called into question, the U.S. expected to resolve the coalition mission it started in 2014 to combat ISIS by September 2025. There were also some 900 U.S. troops were still in Syria as of September 2024 as part of the campaign. Ain Al-Assad appeared to have been targeted late last week as tensions in the Middle East reheat. The Associated Press reported that U.S. forces stationed at the airbase, in western Iraq, had come under attack from three drones on June 14. Analysts believe the drones would have been fired by Iran-backed proxies, rather than Tehran itself. The drones were intercepted before hitting their targets. Ain Al Assad was attacked by Iran in January 2020 during the largest ballistic missile attack on American forces in US history. Iran's attack was launched in retaliation for a US strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump on January 3, 2020, that killed top Islamic Revolutionary Guard General, Qassem Soleimani. Eleven warheads, each weighing about 1,600 lbs, struck the air base. Leaked military memos revealed last year suggest that US service members may also have been exposed to toxic and radioactive materials during the attack. USS Nimitz Strike Group U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea on Monday morning heading west after a reception for its planned port call in central Vietnam was cancelled. The carrier had planned to visit Danang City later this week, but two sources, including one diplomat, said a formal reception slated for June 20 had been called off. Exactly why was unclear. One of the sources said the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi had informed him about the cancellation, due to 'an emergent operational requirement'. Data from Marine Traffic showed the carrier on Monday morning was moving west in the direction of the Middle East, where the battle between Israel and Iran is escalating. The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are among the largest warships in the world, measuring around 1090ft and hosting more than 5,000 personnel. Two nuclear reactors power the vessels, which are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots, with practically unlimited range. The inbound USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group will arrive with nine aircraft squadrons, the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer, and the Ticonderoga-Class Guided Missile Cruiser, according to the Department of Defence. Mr Anderson told CNN that, by his understanding, there are two destroyers within range to 'be able to support Israel right now', and '46,000 troops scattered across nine different installations all over the Middle East'. USS Carl Vinson Strike Group The USS Nimitz will join the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, hitherto stationed in the Gulf of Aden as a show of force to the Yemeni Houthi rebels. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is now in the Arabian Sea with the four warships in its strike group. They are not participating in the defense of Israel. The USS Nimitz has been long scheduled to take over for the Carl Vinson and is heading west from the Indo-Pacific region. The official said it is slated to arrive in the region by the end of the month, and the two carriers would likely overlap in the Middle East at least for a short time before the Vinson heads home to San Diego. The USS Carl Vinson travels with the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. It also has access to nine aircraft squadrons, including F035C Lighting IIs, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands The United States sent an 'unprecedented' deployment of its heavy B-2 bombers to the Chagos Islands as tensions over nuclear talks with Iran grew in April. Six stealth bombers flew in to the U.S. airbase on Diego Garcia from Missouri in what was said to have been the 'largest single deployment in US history'. Asked at the time if the U.S. was gearing up to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said: 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren't successful I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran if that's the case.' The challenge will be refuelling bombers tasked with potentially travelling 3,500 miles from Diego Garcia to the Middle East, Mr Anderson explained. US Air Force tankers were deployed across the Atlantic on Sunday en route to the region. With the B-2 Bombers, the U.S. would be able to provide vital bunker busters, such as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (GBU-57), capable of penetrating up to 200ft and putting Iran's remaining nuclear sites in jeopardy. The U.S. had already been building up its military presence in the region amid ongoing clashes with the Yemeni Houthi rebels and ISIS in Syria. In May, the Pentagon sent fighter jets to the military base in the Indian Ocean to protect assets there, the War Zone military news website reported. A senior officer from U.S.-Indo Pacific Command said that F-15s had been deployed to 'provide force protection', without specifying how many. In March, satellite imagery showed C-17 cargo planes and KC-135 refueling tankers had been moved to Chagos. And by the end of the month, the U.S. said it had sent 'several' additional A-10 Warthogs to the Middle East, along with 300 airmen. Camp Arifjan, Kuwait The United States has a mixed-purpose military base in Kuwait, stationing parts of the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard as well as troops from the UK. The base today serves as the primary logistics, supply and command hub for US military operations in the Middle East. Announcing new warehouses to ensure combat ready equipment could be housed at the base in 2016, the army revealed there was approximately $5.5bn worth of equipment across the site. Naval Support Activity, Bahrain Naval Support Activity Bahrain, or NSA Bahrain, is home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, hosting approximately 8,300 military personnel, Department of Defence civilian staff and their families. The base is developed from the site of HMS Jufair, a Royal Navy outpost established during World War II and transferred to the United States in 1971. In the American era, the base was used to support operations during the War in Afghanistan and the Second Gulf War. Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia The Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) was built in 1951 and used by the American during the War in Afghanistan to coordinate offensive air operations launched from other countries. The U.S. moved its operations at PSAB to Al Udeid in Doha in 2003, during the War in Iraq, after the Saudi government refused to allow them to use the base to strike Afghanistan and al-Qaeda. Andreas Papandreou Air Force Base, Cyprus A little over 100 miles from Beirut, Cyprus remains of real strategic importance to powers looking to project power in the Middle East. Marines were stationed at the American Andreas Papandreou AFB late last year, prepared for potential evacuations during Israel's strikes on Hezbollah. They brought with them a contingent of V-22 Osprey aircraft, Newsweek reports. Although Cypriot officials insisted that any use of the base by foreign forces would require local sign off and could not be used to coordinate military strikes. In January, one Cypriot official told the Associated Press that the USAF was looking to upgrade the air base for use as a humanitarian staging post in future operations. RAF Akrotiri, also on Cyprus, is Britain's largest air force base in the region. Some 2,220 British soldiers were stationed at bases on the island as of April last year, according to the Ministry of Defence. The British Army permanently deploys two infantry battalions to the bases on Cyprus. Incirlik Air Base, Turkey Incirlik is a Turkish airbase in Adana also used by the United States Air Force and, at times, the Royal Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force. Continued use depends on Turkish benevolence, however. President Tayyip Erdogan threatened to close down the base, which hosts U.S. nuclear warheads, in response to threats of U.S. sanctions in 2019. An estimated 50 American B61 nuclear bombs were stored at Incirlik Air Base. Thousands of U.S. troops stopped at Incirlik as a safe midpoint on the way back to their home post during the Second Gulf War.
