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U.S. NEWS Friday 27 September 2019

U.S. deploys air defense systems, troops to Saudi Arabia

By LOLITA C. BALDOR called out Iranian misad-
Associated Press ventures in the region, and
WASHINGTON (AP) — The we look for them to contrib-
U.S. is sending one Patriot ute assets in an internation-
missile battery and four al effort to reinforce Saudi
ground-based radar sys- Arabia’s defense,” Penta-
tems to Saudi Arabia, the gon spokesman Jonathan
Pentagon said Thursday, Hoffman said Thursday.
in what officials describe Gen. Joseph Dunford,
as the first steps to help chairman of the Joint Chiefs
the kingdom protect itself of Staff, said last week that
against Iranian attacks. the goal is to defend Saudi
Two more Patriot batteries Arabia against unconven-
and a THAAD missile de- tional aerial attacks using
fense system will be pre- a “layered system of de-
pared to go later if needed, fensive capabilities” that
and the deployment will in- would mitigate the risk of
volve about 200 troops. swarms of drones or other
Military commanders and attacks by Iran.
defense leaders have been This March 27, 2008, file photo, shows the Pentagon in Washington. The U.S. has so far not pro-
working since last week to Associated Press vided any hard evidence
iron out what military aid diate military strike on Iran, vide better surveillance Defense Secretary Mark Es- that Tehran was respon-
to send to the region in re- but approved a broader coverage across northern per said last week that ad- sible for the attacks, but
sponse to what U.S. officials effort to beef up security Saudi Arabia. The bulk of ditional security measures officials insist they have no
say was a brazen and un- in Saudi Arabia and the re- the kingdom’s Patriot bat- will be the first step, but he doubt the cruise missiles
precedented cruise missile gion. He told reporters that teries and other defenses did not rule out additional and drones were launched
and drone attack by Iran showing restraint “shows are focused on the south moves down the road. Of- from inside Iran.
on Saudi oil facilities on far more strength” than to protect the country from ficials have said they are Iran has denied involve-
Sept. 14. launching retaliatory strikes attacks by Iranian-backed talking with allies in an ef- ment and warned the U.S.
President Donald Trump now. Houthis in Yemen. The fort to get more nations to that any attack will spark
during a White House The four Sentinel radar sys- Houthis launch almost daily contribute to security in the an “all-out war” with im-
meeting last Friday put off, tems and the Patriot bat- attacks into Saudi Arabia region. mediate retaliation from
at least for now, any imme- tery are designed to pro- and at times into the UAE. “Other countries have Tehran.q