US increases Middle East military presence in response to attacks on troops
- The US has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, support ships and about 2,000 Marines
- There has been a spike in attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria since the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza erupted
The US will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defence missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Saturday, in response to recent attacks on US troops in the region.
The United States has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships and about 2,000 Marines.
Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Gaza war.
“Following detailed discussions with President [Joe] Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defence posture in the region,” Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
Austin said he was placing additional troops on prepare-to-deploy orders, but did not say how many. The Pentagon has already placed some 2,000 troops on a heightened state of readiness in case they need to deploy to the region.
“These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for US forces in the region, and assist in the defence of Israel,” Austin added.
The deployments come two years after Biden’s administration withdrew air defence systems from the Middle East, citing a reduction in tensions with Iran.