Trump approves troop deployment in response to attacks on Saudi oil sites

President Trump on Friday approved the deployment of U.S. troops and missile defense equipment to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in response to an attack on Saudi oil facilities that the Trump administration has blamed on Iran.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper made the announcement at the Pentagon, saying “all indications are that Iran was responsible for the attack” on the two Saudi oil refineries, which were hit by drones and cruise missiles last weekend.

Saudi Arabia as well as its neighbor the UAE have since requested international support to deter further attacks.

“In response to the kingdom’s request, the president has approved the deployment of U.S. forces, which will be defensive in nature and primarily focused on air and missile defense,” Esper said at the Pentagon.

Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford, who had just returned from presenting Trump with a range of military options on Iran, would not say how many troops would be deployed, but acknowledged it would not number in the thousands.