The US military's will move up to 600 members of its headquarters staff from Florida to Qatar near Iraq for an "exercise" in November.
The decision comes amid growing speculation the United States is to invade Iraq to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.
The US military Central Command said from its headquarters in Tampa that up to 600 staffers would go to the Al Udeid Air Base near Doha in friendly Qatar for "Internal Look," an exercise held biennially in the Gulf since 1990.
A Central Command spokesman, declined to say whether such a headquarters shift might become more permanent. But Pentagon officials hinted the move was being considered.
The base in Qatar could play a key command role in any invasion of Iraq. Saudi Arabia, a neighbor of Qatar, has said that it would not allow major US air power at its big Prince Sultan Air Base to be used against any Iraq invasion. The United States, working with Qatar, has in recent months sharply increased its military presence at Al Udeid as a backup to Sultan.
The command move emerged as US military forces in the Gulf and Middle East were yesterday upgraded to their highest alert status in response to warnings of possible terror attacks on the anniversary of strikes against America, officials said.