WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- What assets and weapons systems would the U.S. military likely use in any strike against Iran's nuclear program, and what targets would it seek to use them against?

Historically, the military has used just two carrier groups for actions in the Persian Gulf. That was the deployment before Operation Desert Strike, a two-day bombing campaign in 1996, and Operation Desert Fox, a three-day bombing campaign two years later -- both against targets in Iraq.

The capabilities of carrier groups are boosted by Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be carried by cruisers, destroyers and submarines. With a range of up to 1,500 kilometers and the ability to hit targets with precision, the missiles are likely to be part of any attack.

But despite undeniable improvements in recent years, carrier-based air power still has limitations. A carrier strike group has far less actual attack planes than an Air Force air wing, and the planes it does have are of shorter range.

Patriot air defense systems might be deployed to U.S. allies in the gulf in an effort to offset any Iranian retaliation aimed at them. And there may be deployment of some of the U.S. European-based missile defense assets to Israel, just as there was before Gulf II.