Scoop: U.S. sent more Patriots to protect Saudi, Qatari energy sites

The U.S. has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect their oil and gas facilities, according to sources cited by Axios. This move comes amid President Trump's consideration of resuming major combat operations against Iran, with Trump stating he is weighing whether Iran will sign a deal or cease to exist.

In early August, Saudi Arabia and Qatar had expressed concerns to Trump about potential retaliation from Iran if the U.S. launched a major attack, which reportedly influenced his decision against a military strike. The additional Patriot batteries were sent in response to these concerns and to reassure the allies of U.S. protection.

However, the Saudi Arabian government may not grant permission for U.S. use of its airspace if they feel their oil facilities will not be adequately protected. The U.S. military is also sending more warships, fighter jets, and troops to the Middle East in anticipation of a potential resumption of the war, with up to three aircraft carrier strike groups potentially deploying to the region.

Brief written by urgent.news from Axios's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.