Tens of thousands of U.S. troops are within Iran’s striking distance should President Trump decide to wade into Israel’s conflict with Tehran and directly attack the country.

More than 40,000 American service members and civilians — as well as billions of dollars in military equipment — are in the Middle East, spread out across bases in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Those working in countries closest to Iran, including Iraq and Kuwait, would conceivably have only minutes to prepare for an incoming Iranian strike, a likely outcome should Trump order the U.S. military to join Israel’s bombing campaign, experts say.

“If [Iran] had the ballistic missiles ready to go, those strikes could happen in under 15 minutes. Launched to target,” retired Col. Seth Krummrich, vice president at security consultancy firm Global Guardian, told The Hill. “They move very quickly.”

Israel last week unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on Iran that set off the largest conflict ever between the two regional adversaries, with Tehran responding with its own attacks. The war has threatened to pull in the U.S., which says it supports Israel’s right to defend itself but has not directly involved itself in the bombing.

Trump has not yet decided on possible American military action against Iran, telling reporters through his top spokesperson that he would make his decision within two weeks.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,” according to Trump's statement relayed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday.

But Iran has already threatened to directly attack U.S. forces should they enter Israel’s war campaign, with the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali........

© The Hill