December 6, 2019
We are evaluating the threat situations.
- Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood spoke to Congress Thursday.
- He affirmed 14,000 additional U.S. forces were sent to the Middle East this year to counter growing threats from Iran.
- Rood did not specify how many more U.S. troops could deploy, but confirmed consideration of more forces being sent to the region.
- Context: Upwards of 80,000 U.S. troops are deployed to the Middle East at any time.
- Why It Matters: Reflects heightened concern about Iran after a series of attacks this year (bombing of an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and bombing of a Saudi oil company).
Read more:
Top Pentagon Official Tells Senators More Troops Might Be Sent to Mideast
https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-pentagon-official-tells-senators-more-troops-might-be-sent-to-mideast-11575569890
US considers sending more troops to the Middle East amidst Iranian threat: top Pentagon official
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/thousands-us-troops-headed-middle-east/story?id=67504430
by Jenna Lee,
