The US military has deployed two additional Patriot air defense batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent weeks to protect key oil and gas facilities, Axios reported Friday, citing two US officials and a regional source.
One battery was sent to Saudi Arabia last month to protect a major oil facility, while another was deployed to safeguard a natural gas facility in Qatar. The move is meant to reassure both allies that Washington will help protect their energy infrastructure if the US resumes major combat operations against Iran.
In early August, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar had urged Trump not to launch another major attack on Iran over fears of retaliation against their oil and gas facilities. US officials told Axios those concerns were a key reason Trump held off and chose economic pressure instead.
Trump said Thursday he is 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."