As of this month, the U.S. military had about 40,000 service members in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official.

Iran fired 19 missiles at the US’s Al Udeid airbase on Monday. The Qatari defence forces intercepted 18, Ministry of Interior officials confirmed in the hours after the attack. The base is located 35 kilometres (21 miles) from Doha, but the incoming barrage of missiles flew over the capital, which had become gripped with tension.

By Andrew Mills, Parisa Hafezi and Alexander Cornwell DOHA/ISTANBUL/TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Iran's military said on Monday it had carried out a "devastating and powerful" missile attack on the Al Udeid U.