Washington:The US military has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to bolster the defense of energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This move comes amid preparations for potential renewed military operations against Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, one battery was dispatched to Saudi Arabia last month to safeguard a key oil facility, while another was sent to Qatar to protect a natural gas facility. These deployments aim to reassure both nations that the United States is committed to defending their critical energy infrastructure in the event of renewed combat operations against Iran by US President Donald Trump.

President Trump has indicated he is considering restarting a bombing campaign, stating, "Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer." Axios, citing US and regional sources, reported that Saudi and Qatari leaders have urged Trump not to launch major attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure due to fears of retaliation against their own facilities. These appeals have influenced Trump's decision to focus on economic pressure instead.

The report also noted that Washington would require Saudi permission to use the kingdom's airspace for any major combat operations, which Riyadh would likely grant only with assurances of protection for its oil facilities.

In addition to the missile batteries, the US is increasing its military presence in the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group departed San Diego and are expected to arrive in the region by mid-November. It remains unclear whether this deployment will replace an existing one or increase the number of US carrier strike groups in the area to three. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, carrying thousands of Marines, also left for the region and is expected to arrive by the end of November.