Saudi Arabia getting more help from US United States
The US is deploying dozens more fighter jets and additional air defence systems to Saudi Arabia, beefing up efforts to defend the kingdom against Iran even as President Donald Trump repeatedly insists that America must get out of endless Middle East wars.
Defence Secretary Mark Esper announced the deployments yesterday, just hours after Iran said two missiles struck one of its oil tankers travelling through the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The Pentagon’s moves are part of a broader response to a suspected Iranian missile and drone attack on Saudi oil facilities on September 14.
The heightened tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have led the US to pour about 14,000 more troops into the region since May, including additional ships to maintain maritime security in the Persian Gulf area.
Esper said the decision followed discussions with the Saudi defence minister about the country’s defensive capabilities. ‘‘Saudi Arabia . . . has asked for additional support to supplement their own defence and defend the international rules-based order,’’ he said at the Pentagon.
Brian Hook, the special US envoy for Iran, said the decision to send additional forces to Saudi Arabia had been arrived at after weeks of consultations with Saudi officials and others in the region.
He rejected suggestions that sending the additional troops contradicted Trump’s broader goal of withdrawing US forces from the Middle East. He said the deployment was defensive in nature and designed to send Iran a message.
No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Iranian tanker.
In the latest deployment, the US will send two fighter jet squadrons, a unit of other support aircraft, two Patriot missile batteries, one THAAD anti-missile defence system, and about 1800 personnel.
Earlier this month the US sent one fighter jet squadron. Last month it sent one Patriot missile battery, four ground-based radar systems, and about 200 troops. The three deployments involve a total of 3000 troops.
The September 14 attack on the Saudi oil facilities, as well as earlier ones on a pipeline in the kingdom and ships in the gulf, stem from Trump’s decision to unilaterally withdraw America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers and impose crushing sanctions targeting Iran’s crude oil sales and shipments.