President Trump on Friday approved the deployment of U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia and the UAE after an attack on oil facilities that the countries are blaming on Iran.

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford announced in an evening press conference that a “moderate” number of troops will be deployed and will be focused on air and missile defense.

Although the officials did not specify how many trooops would be deployed, Gen. Dunford said it would “not be thousands” and is withholding additional details until next week.

Mr. Esper said the U.S. is not seeking conflict with Iran, but “all indications are that Iran was responsible for the attacks” on Saudi Aramco oil facilities last weekend.

He explained that the weapons used in the attacks were Iranian made and did not originate from Yemen, as Iranian officials had claimed.

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