WASHINGTON: The Pentagon said Friday that it approved the deployment of 3,000 additional soldiers and military equipment in Saudi Arabia, which boosted the country's defenses after attacks on its oil facilities attributed to Iran.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has authorized the deployment of two more Patriot missile batteries, a THAAD ballistic missile interception system, two combat squads and an aerial expeditionary wing, the Pentagon said in a statement.
"Secretary Esper informed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman this morning about the deployment of additional troops to secure and improve the defense of Saudi Arabia," he said.
"Together with other deployments, this constitutes an additional 3,000 forces that have been extended or authorized in the last month," he said.
Later, Esper told reporters that the deployments were in response "to the continuing threats in the region" and came after a conversation with bin Salman about "efforts to protect against further Iranian aggression." The Saudi prince had requested additional support, Esper said.
Since May, the United States has increased the number of its forces by approximately 14,000 in the Central Command area that covers the Middle East, the defense department said.
In September, the United States announced the deployment of 200 Patriot troops and missiles in the kingdom following attacks on Saudi oil facilities attributed to Iran.
Friday's announcement came after the owner of an Iranian oil tanker said alleged missile attacks hit the ship in front of the port of Jeddah, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, which raised new concerns about oil supply in the East. Means, medium.
The planned deployment will include combat squads, an air expeditionary wing and air defense personnel, the Pentagon said.
It was not clear if some of the recently announced troops could replace other US forces that are expected to leave the region in the coming weeks or months.
The Pentagon has not yet announced, for example, whether it will replace the USS aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and his attack group when it finally concludes its deployment in the Middle East.
The deployment is part of a series of what the United States has described as defensive movements after the attack on Saudi oil facilities last month, which shook world energy markets and exposed significant gaps in Saudi Arabia's air defenses.
Iran has responded to deployments of previous US troops this year with apprehension. He denies responsibility for the attack on Saudi Arabia, as well as attacks on oil tankers earlier this year.
Posted on Dawn, October 12, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1510415/us-to-deploy-3000-more-troops-boost-missile-defence-systems-in-saudi-arabia