Iran has used the continuing chaos in Iraq to build up a hidden arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq, part of a widening effort to try to intimidate the Middle East and assert its power, according to US intelligence and military officials.

The buildup comes as the US has rebuilt its military presence in the Middle East to counter emerging threats to American interests, including attacks on oil tankers and facilities that intelligence officials have blamed on Iran.

Since May, the Trump administration has sent roughly 14,000 additional troops to the region, primarily to staff Navy ships and missile defence systems.

But new intelligence about Iran’s stockpiling of missiles in Iraq is the latest sign that the Trump administration’s efforts to deter Tehran by increasing the US military presence in the Middle East has largely failed.

The missiles pose a threat to US allies and partners in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, and could endanger American troops, the intelligence officials said.

In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Show all 13 1 /13 In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A speedboat of Iran's Revolutionary Guard moving around the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero Tasnim News Agency/AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A satellite image of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas reveals the presence of the seized British oil tanker, the Stena Impero on July 22 Maxar Technologies/Reuters In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Iranian Revolutionary Guards patrolling around the captured British-flagged tanker Stena Impero as it's anchored off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas AFP/Getty In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733612 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A satellite image of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas reveals the presence of the seized British oil tanker, the Stena Impero on July 22 Maxar Technologies/Reuters In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A speedboat of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard moves around a British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733614 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran In this photo released by state-run IRIB News Agency, which aired on Monday, July 22, 2019, shows cooks in the galley of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero that was seized by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The Associated Press cannot independently verify the condition of the crew members, but in the video they looked to be in good health and it didn't appear as though they were being filmed under duress. (IRIB News Agency via AP) AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733619 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733613 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733616 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency

Tehran is engaged in a shadow war, striking at countries in the Middle East but thinly disguising the origin of those attacks to reduce the chance of provoking a response or escalating the fight, military and intelligence officials said.

An arsenal of missiles outside its borders gives advantages to the Iranian government, military and paramilitary in any standoff with the US and its regional allies.

If the US or Israel were to bomb Iran, its military could use missiles hidden in Iraq to strike back against Israel or a Gulf country.

The mere existence of those weapons could also help deter attacks.

Intelligence officials would not discuss the precise model of ballistic missile Iran has sneaked into Iraq.

But short-range missiles have a range of just over 600 miles, meaning that one fired from the outskirts of Baghdad could strike Jerusalem.

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US intelligence officials first warned about new Iranian missiles in Iraq last year, and Israel launched an airstrike aimed at destroying the hidden Iranian weaponry.

But since then, US officials have said the threat is growing, with new ballistic missiles being secretly moved in.