President Donald Trump officially informed the Congress on Tuesday of deploying approximately 3,000 US soldiers to Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions with Iran.

In the letter addressed to Congress, President Trump said that the US “Armed Forces have been deployed to the Middle East to protect United States interests and enhance force protection in the region against hostile action by Iran and its proxy forces.”

He pointed out that “Iran has continued to threaten the security of the region, including by attacking oil and natural gas facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 14, 2019.”

The deployment will “deter further Iranian provocative behavior, and bolster regional defensive capabilities,” Trump said.

The deployment includes “radar and missile systems to improve defenses against air and missile threats in the region, an air expeditionary wing to support the operation of United States fighter aircraft from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and two fighter squadrons,” according to the letter obtained by an Al Arabiya correspondent.

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President Trump confirmed that “the first of these additional forces have arrived in Saudi Arabia, and the remaining forces will arrive in the coming weeks.”

“With these additional forces, the total number of United States Armed Forces personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be approximately 3,000,” Trump said.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:54 - GMT 06:54