As hundreds of thousands of People collect along with family members to have fun the Christmas vacation and ring within the new yr, a whole lot of hundreds of American women and men in uniform will mark the vacations away from household in decidedly much less festive corners of the world.Â
As of June, 165,830 U.S. service members have been on deployment throughout the Center East, Indo-Pacific area and Europe. That determine has probably ticked larger amid current unrest throughout the Center East, and it doesn’t embrace service members working at U.S. bases over the vacations and civilian personnel on abroad contracts.
Right here’s a have a look at the place service members will spend the vacations on deployment the world over:Â
Center EastÂ
Round 43,000 troops are stationed throughout the Center East as of October, a rise from the standard 34,000 amid the current unrest and outbreak of warfare between Israel and Iranian proxy forces Hamas and Hezbollah.Â
The Pentagon introduced in October it could be shifting troops into Cyprus to arrange for escalating unrest in Lebanon. And final week the Pentagon divulged that some 2,100 troops have been in Syria — not the 900 they’d lengthy claimed. One other 1,000 troops are in Iraq finishing up missions to thwart ISIS.Â
Europe
U.S. forces are stationed throughout Europe to help NATO forces and deter any potential Russian aggression.Â
Main areas of deployment embrace Germany (34,894), Italy (12,319) and the UK (10,180).
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Asia
U.S. forces companion with allies in Asia to conduct joint workout routines and coordinate on countering the specter of China andÂ
Areas of deployment embrace South Korea (23,732), Japan (52,852) and Guam (6,453).
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Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin thanked U.S. troops for serving over the vacation season in a Christmas message.Â
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“We all know firsthand the vacations will be particularly laborious if you happen to’re far-off out of your family members. So for our troops stationed across the globe, we deeply recognize your sacrifice,” he mentioned. “We all know that your households serve too, and our army households are the muse of America’s energy.”