REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Saturday, in response to recent attacks on U.S. 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.
"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 Defense posture in the region," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
The deployments come two years after Biden's administration withdrew air defense systems from the Middle East, citing a reduction in tensions with Iran.
The Patriot, considered one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems, is usually in short supply, with allies around the world vying for it.
Persons:
Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Israel, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, William Mallard
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, Area Defense, Pentagon, United, Defense, U.S, Gaza's Health, Thomson
Locations:
Gaza, U.S, United States, Washington, Iran, Israel, East, South Korea, China, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Yemen