A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has not operated in the Middle Eastern waters of the American 5th Fleet since U.S. forces pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, and regional supply lines have been left unpatrolled.

Source: https://jcpa.org/article/saudi-iran-rapprochement-and-saudi-israel-normalization-no-contradiction-intended/

Beijing also began developing anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) systems to block out U.S. forces.

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/south-korea-can-play-a-more-active-role-in-the-south-china-sea/

Beijing has criticized an agreement to grant U.S. forces access to additional Philippine military camps.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/04/22/chinas-fm-holds-talks-in-philippines-amid-strained-ties/

BEIRUT (AP) — A helicopter raid by U.S. forces in northern Syria early on Monday killed a senior leader of the militant Islamic State group, the U.S. military said.

Source: https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/national/3048562/us-helicopter-raid-in-syria-kills-islamic-state-leader.html

China has opposed military drills involving U.S. forces in the region as well as increasing U.S. military deployments, which it warned would ratchet up tensions and hamper regional stability and peace.

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/us-filipino-forces-show-firepower-at-sea-amid-china-tension/

In the past, Japan was content to be the junior partner in their mutual defense treaty, merely providing basing support for U.S. forces going into battle.

Source: https://dailycaller.com/2023/01/19/opinion-another-major-adversary-has-emerged-against-china-gordon-chang/

Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East about 100 times since October, and on Monday an explosive drone made it past U.S. defenses at a base in Iraq.

Source: https://ktar.com/story/5554993/editorial-roundup-united-states-80/

'More skirmishes between Israel and Iran, not to mention a full-scale war, could destabilize the region, disrupt global markets, cause massive harm to civilians, draw in U.S. forces, and perhaps even prompt Iran to weaponize its nuclear capabilities.'

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12653115/Fears-grow-Israel-Gaza-war-explode-wider-conflict-missiles-intercepted-warship-near-Yemen-experts-warn-starts-going-bad-going-bad-lot-places-quickly.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

“The Secretary made clear that attacks against U.S. forces must stop,” the Pentagon spokesman said.

Source: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/pentagon-chief-condemns-attack-on-us-embassy/

This makes these isolated bases soft targets for Iranian militias and other bad actors in the region looking to punish the U.S. or potentially draw U.S. forces into a larger confrontation.

Source: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/our-national-disgrace-in-iraq-and-syria/

U.S. forces have been attacked more than 70 times — 36 times in Iraq, 37 in Syria — since October 17. More than 60 U.S. personnel have been wounded, according to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.

Source: https://theintercept.com/2023/11/25/military-weapons-iraq-syria-theft/

U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked with drones or rockets at least 17 times in recent days, including on Thursday, according to U.S. officials.

Source: https://www.newdelhitimes.com/us-forces-in-iraq-syria-targeted-17-times-in-recent-days-officials-say/

When U.S. forces got booted out of Afghanistan and began killing significantly less people in Iraq, the rage that motivates terrorists to strike began going down.

Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2023/04/jacob-hornberger/those-scary-and-dangerous-russkies/

Yasamin Sohrabi, 26, is among those still trying to find a way to the U.S. Sohrabi, who had been studying at American University of Afghanistan, realized as the withdrawal of U.S. forces neared that she might need to go overseas to continue her studies.

Source: https://ktar.com/story/5519768/asu-student-among-those-thriving-after-fleeing-talibans-afghanistan-takeover/