Scoop: U.S. sent more Patriots to protect Saudi, Qatari energy sites
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Caption: The U.S. military recently sent Patriot missile batteries to protect facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Photo: Darrell Ames/DVIDS
The U.S. military in recent weeks sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to protect oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two U.S. officials and one regional source said.
Why it matters: The U.S. wanted to reassure both allies that it would protect their key energy facilities in case President Trump decides to resume major combat operations against Iran.
- Trump said on Thursday that he's considering renewing a bombing campaign in the coming weeks. "Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer," he said.
Flashback: In early August, when Trump was considering launching a massive attack that included strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, the leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Qatar lobbied him not to do it. They expressed grave concern that Iran would strike their oil and natural gas facilities in retaliation.
- U.S. officials said the pleas were a key reason Trump decided not to attack and move instead toward an economic pressure campaign.
Behind the scenes: Last month, the U.S. military sent one additional Patriot battery to Saudi Arabia to protect a key oil facility. Another Patriot battery was sent to Qatar to protect a natural gas facility.
- The U.S. will need Saudi Arabia to allow it to use the country's airspace if major combat operations resume. But the Saudis are unlikely to grant permission if they feel oil facilities won't be protected.
- A spokesman for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Capt. Tim Hawkins, declined to comment.
Reality check: Patriot batteries and especially their interceptors have become a highly sought-after commodity since the war in Iran started.
- The U.S. military transferred batteries and interceptors to the Middle East from other regional commands, raising concerns about readiness in other parts of the world.
State of play: The U.S. military is sending more warships, fighter jets and troops to the Middle East ahead of a possible resumption of the war.
- A U.S. official said the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group left San Diego "quietly" on Sunday heading to the region. It's expected to arrive in the Middle East around mid-November.
- The Roosevelt will join the USS George H.W. Bush, which has been in the region since March, and the USS George Washington, which was sent from Japan during the summer and has been in the region for only about a month.
- "This means the Middle East region could potentially have up to three aircraft carrier strike groups. This is much more firepower," the U.S. official said.
- But another U.S. official said it hasn't been determined whether the Roosevelt will replace one of the aircraft carriers currently deployed to the Middle East or whether it will be additional.
Zoom in: The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, which includes three amphibious ships carrying thousands of Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, left for the region on Monday, a U.S. official said.
- It is expected to arrive in the Middle East by the end of November and join another Amphibious Group and Marine expeditionary unit that have been deployed to the region over the last few months.
