What is the US up against? How Iran's military compares in size

President Donald Trump stated that more military operations are planned for Iran and the Pentagon stated on March 2 that the United States is prepared to send more troops to fight Iran.

Iran has already launched retaliation strikes against Israel and U.S. military installations in the Persian Gulf.

How big is Iran? Iran is the 17th largest nation in the world by area, just after Sudan and Libya. It is roughly 636,000 square miles in size.

Here's a look at how the United States' military compares with Iran.

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How strong is Iran's military compared to the United States?

Iran continues to develop longer-range missile technologies under the watchful eye of its space-launch program, but it has not yet tested or launched a missile that might hit the United States.

What are Iran's missile range capabilities?

With thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles, some of which have reached Israel and are capable of reaching Eastern Europe, Iran has the biggest and most varied missile arsenal in the Middle East, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Iran has made significant efforts over the last ten years to increase the accuracy and deadliness of these weapons. Due to these advancements, Iran's missile forces are now a potent weapon for projecting Iranian power and a real threat to the military forces of the United States and its allies in the area.

Iranian missile attacks from 2017-2026

1. June 2017 in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, launching 6 ballistic missiles
2. September 2018 in Koya, Iraq, launching 7 ballistic missiles
3. October 2018 in Abu Kamal, launching 6 ballistic missiles
4. September 2019 in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, launching 18 drones
5. September 2019 in Khurais, Saudi Arabia, launching 3 cruise missiles
6. January 2020 in Erbil Air Base, Iraq, launching 1 ballistic missile
7. January 2020 in Ain Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, launching 11+ ballistic missiles
8. February and December 2021 in Erbil, Iraq, launching ballistic and cruise missiles
9. March 2022 in Erbil, Iraq, launching ballistic missiles
10. June 2023 in Iraq and Syria, launching ballistic and cruise missiles
11. January, April, October 2024 in Pakistan, Israel, Iraq, Syria, launching ballistic and cruise missiles
12. June 2025 in Al Udedi Air Base, Qatar, launching ballistic and cruise missiles
13. March 2026 in neighboring countries targeting U.S. bases and Israel, launching ballistic and cruise missiles

SOURCE Al Jazeera; Center for Strategic and International Studies; Council on Foreign Relations; USA TODAY research