The performing Pentagon chief has inexperienced-lighted the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East, citing “reliable, credible” intelligence on current assaults on oil tankers within the Gulf that Washington blames on Iran.
In a press release Monday, Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan stated he authorised US Central Command (CENTCOM)’s earlier request to enhance forces to “address air, naval, and ground-based threats in the Middle East.”
The US has been beefing up its troops within the area since early May, when Washington despatched a battery of Patriot missiles, nuclear-succesful bombers and an plane provider strike group to the world, the place it presently has 1,500 troops. The rising risk from Tehran was given as justification for the buildup. Washington has blamed Iran for quite a lot of incidents within the area over the past two months. Tehran denies its involvement.
A current report, citing UN sources in New York, alleged that Washington was contemplating launching a ‘tactical assault on Iran’ in retaliation to the June 13th assault on two international tankers within the Gulf of Oman.