Satellite images reveal that U.S. military authorities have relocated numerous aircraft from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, likely to shield them from possible Iranian air strikes as tensions escalate in the Israel-Iran conflict.
AFP’s analysis of Planet Labs PBC images highlights a dramatic change at Al Udeid, the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East. On June 5, 2025, nearly 40 aircraft sat on the tarmac, including Hercules C-130 transports and reconnaissance planes. By June 19, only three aircraft remained visible, suggesting that authorities moved the majority to hangars or other regional bases.
US Warplanes Quietly Pulled from Qatar Airbase
Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show an unusually empty runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, suggesting the U.S. military has redeployed many aircraft. The move follows similar naval dispersals in Bahrain, seen as… pic.twitter.com/TVqqdcGnei
— Ahmad Algohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) June 19, 2025A former U.S. Army lieutenant general and Rand Corporation researcher, Mark Schwartz, told AFP, “Personnel and aircraft at Al Udeid are extremely vulnerable due to its proximity to Iran. Even shrapnel could render aircraft non-mission capable.”
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar announced on June 19 that access to the base would be limited “out of an abundance of caution” due to regional hostilities. This follows Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks. The White House stated that President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran, raising fears of Iranian strikes on U.S. bases.
US military aircraft no longer visible at base in Qatar: satellite images
US relocates aircraft from Qatar base amid Iran tensions. Satellite images show 40+ warplanes moved from Al Udeid as Trump weighs Israel strike support.
🔗 https://t.co/TgRhMQ1EmZ
📸 photo taken on June… pic.twitter.com/ahoron7nvi
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) June 20, 2025AFP’s open-source data analysis revealed that 27 military refuelling planes, including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, moved from the U.S. to Europe between June 15 and 18, with 25 remaining in Europe as of June 18. An additional U.S. aircraft carrier is also en route to the Middle East.
The aircraft relocation reflects a preemptive strategy to protect U.S. assets, as noted by defence officials on X, who reported evacuating non-sheltered planes. Schwartz emphasised, “You want to reduce risk to U.S. forces, both personnel and equipment.” The U.S. military has not commented on specific asset positioning but stressed maintaining “operational security” and readiness.
