For weeks, Washington has been building up its forces in the Middle East – and now looks set to assemble more air power in the region than at any time since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
President Donald Trump has been pressuring the Iranian regime to make a nuclear deal, saying Tehran has a deadline of "10, 15 days" before it could face potential military action. He has told reporters he’s considering "limited strikes". Iran has vowed to retaliate if the US launches any attacks.
Merlyn Thomas from BBC Verify has been tracking the buildup of ships and fighter jets in the Middle East, including confirming the location of the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln – equipped with guided missile destroyers and dozens of fighter jets – near Iran. USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest warship, has also been spotted, seemingly en route to the region.
She explains the military fire power that the US could unleash on Iran, and how it compares with last year’s Operation Hammer, when the US struck Iran’s nuclear sites.
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