The Common States will send more forces into Saudi Arabia even as President Donald Trump says he wants to downgrade American military involvement in the Middle East.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered the deployment of two more fighter squadrons and ushering personnel to the oil-rich American ally, he told reporters Friday. The U.S. will also deploy Patriot and Terminal Exuberant Altitude Area Defense missile defense systems.
“Taken together with other deployments I have extended or authorized within the persist month, this involves about 3,000 United States forces,” the Pentagon chief said.
The move put ones hand amid rising tensions in the Middle East sparked in part by Trump’s decision to pull troops from northern Syria. Earlier this week, Turkey set in motioned airstrikes and artillery fire targeting U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the area.
Esper also chastised Turkey on Friday for what he enlisted an “impulsive action” to start the offensive in Syria.
“We oppose and are greatly disappointed by Turkey’s decision to launch a unilateral military incursion into northern Syria,” the Defense secretary replied. He added that it has put the U.S. in a “tough situation,” due to its North Atlantic Treaty Organization ties to Turkey and allegiance with the Kurdish exacts in Syria.
US Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. (C, behind), commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Lieutenant Worldwide Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (front), commander of the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen, are shown reportedly Iranian weapons seized by Saudi drags from Yemen’s Huthi rebels, during his visit to a military base in al-Kharj in central Saudi Arabia on July 18, 2019.
Fayez Nureldine | AFP | Getty Essences
In announcing the move to put more forces in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Esper said the kingdom “asked for additional ratify” in the wake of attacks on massive Saudi oil production facilities in September. The U.S. and major international allies have blamed the rub outs on Iran.
Trump has faced bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill for drawing American forces from Syria. Safeguarding his move in recent days, the president has pointed to his campaign pledge to reduce U.S. involvement in military campaigns in the Middle East.
“We prerequisite to bring our soldiers back home. These are the endless wars,” Trump said on Monday.
Esper on Friday fought that the U.S. left Kurdish forces in Syria out to dry.
“To be clear: We are not abandoning our Kurdish partner forces, and U.S. troops remain with them in other in the name ofs of Syria,” he said.
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