Doha: Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show -- a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel.

Images captured by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by AFP show a stark change at the base, a major hub for American military operations in the Middle East. On 5 June, nearly 40 aircraft – including transport planes such as the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft – were visible on the tarmac. By 19 June, only three aircraft remained in view.

The shift comes as the United States weighs its response to Israel’s escalating strikes on Iran, amid concerns that Tehran could retaliate by targeting American military installations in the region.

The US embassy in Qatar announced on Thursday that access to the Al Udeid base would be restricted “out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities,” and advised personnel to maintain heightened vigilance.

White House officials have confirmed that President Donald Trump is expected to decide within the next two weeks whether to involve the US directly in the conflict alongside Israel.

Former US Army Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz, now a defence analyst at the Rand Corporation, described Al Udeid as “extremely vulnerable” due to its proximity to Iran. Schwartz told AFP that even debris from missile strikes could disable exposed aircraft, rendering them “non-mission capable.”

He added: “You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment.”

The repositioned aircraft may have been moved into hangars or redeployed to other bases across the region, though the Pentagon has not confirmed specific details. A US defence official told AFP only that the military was prioritising “operational security” while maintaining “readiness, lethality and professionalism.”

The drawdown comes amid broader US military mobilisation following the first Israeli strikes on Iran nearly a week ago. An additional US aircraft carrier has been dispatched to the region, and significant military air traffic has been recorded.

Open-source flight data indicates that between 15 and 18 June, at least 27 US military refuelling aircraft – including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers – departed from the United States to Europe. As of late Wednesday, 25 of these aircraft remained stationed in Europe, with only two having returned to US territory.