US reinforces Saudi defenses with Patriot missiles to deter the mullah regime

Shaimaa Hafezy

The United States has sought to support Saudi Arabia and strengthen its defenses to face risks after the attack on Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities.

The Pentagon said on Thursday it planned to send four radar systems, a Patriot missile battery and about 200 support personnel to bolster Saudi Arabia’s defenses.

The US military said in a statement that it has allocated additional equipment in preparation for orders to deploy, which means that it can be used faster in the event of a crisis, including two Patriot missile batteries and the THAAD missile defense system.

The attacks on two Saudi Aramco oil facilities have sparked global tensions over the future of the global economy and oil prices, as well as the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia has announced signs of Iranian involvement in the attack, which was claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, but the evidence suggests greater involvement than just support for the Houthi militia.

Iranian attacks

Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, announced that the investigation concluded that the terrorist attack was carried out by seven cruise missiles, as well as 18 drones, all of which came from the north and not from the south, confirming that the attacks were not from Yemen.

Saudi Arabia described the attacks as similar to the events of September 11, 2001, pointing to a possible escalation against Iran.

US Vice President Mike Pence said in remarks on Tuesday that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and the biggest threat to stability and security in the region.

US President Donald Trump said regarding the attacks that the United States does not want to enter into a new conflict with Iran, but if Washington decided to intervene, it has the best weapons, specifically fighter aircraft and missiles.

US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told a news conference on Friday that Washington would continue to impose sanctions on Iran and that all options were on the table, including the military option.

Ortagus said the attacks on the Saudi Aramco oil facilities came from the north, adding that the Houthis do not have the ability to strike these targets accurately.

She stressed that the United States does not want to destabilize the Middle East, but it will not tolerate those who seek to do so and will address these actions firmly and strongly.

Test for Trump’s administration

Analysts say the United States should take a tough stance on Iran after the violent attack.

Dennis Ross, a politician and peace broker for several former US presidents, said the attack was not only a threat to global oil supplies but also an important threat and test for the Trump administration.

Ross said in a report published by Foreign Affairs that Iran acted blatantly in the attack on Aramco, adding that if there are no consequences for these actions, Iran will become bolder.

Ross explained that an ineffective response would send a message at the international level that there are no governing laws and no limits, and that any action can proceed without consequences.

Ross said the US position does not go beyond economic sanctions, and now Washington must ask itself whether this methodology is compatible with the test it is now facing.