The military drills come as the US has engaged in a major military buildup, and Trump is threatening to attack IranUS troops across the Middle East are engaging in war games to demonstrate their readiness. The Islamic Republic has threatened to retaliate against US bases in the Middle East and Israel in response to any attack. In his remarks, he drew parallels between the US military buildup in Latin America before attacking Venezuela and the current American military footprint in the Middle East. The President was concerned that the US lacked enough military power in the Middle East to take out the Iranian government and protect US soldiers and Israel from retaliatory attacks. Since then, the US has engaged in a massive military buildup in the Middle East, including fighter jets, an aircraft carrier strike group, and advanced air defense systems.