Reuters reports:
In a press conference Friday evening, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford announced the US would be sending “hundreds” of US troops, as well as additional air defense capabilities, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“The president has approved the deployment of US forces which will be defensive in nature and primarily focused on air and missile defense,” Esper told reporters at the Pentagon. He noted that the US doesn’t seek war with Iran, but “has other options” as well.
Dunford said that decisions on specifics will be made over the weekend, with details announced next week, but noted it would be a “moderate deployment” that would not include thousands of troops.
WATCH LIVE: Defense Secretary Esper expected to make announcement on Saudi Arabia https://t.co/zR08oqza7u
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) September 20, 2019
Trump in trouble over this Ukraine outrage. Def Sec, fresh from a meeting with Trump, announces at the Pentagon that we are deploying troops to Saudi Arabia. Apparently we are doing this alone and not with other countries. @SpeakerPelosi, you still don’t see a problem?!
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) September 20, 2019
Media: Defense Secy @EsperDoD at the #Pentagon announces the States will put "defensive capabilities" into assisting #Saudi and #UAE with protection. "Moderate deployment" of troops, air, missile defense. Dunford says allies are being asked to help. @CENTCOM working details. pic.twitter.com/M2M5GQBUuk
— Porter Anderson (@Porter_Anderson) September 20, 2019
Want to distract from the growing whistleblower scandal? Start a war. Like now. The Pentagon will deploy US forces to the Middle East on the heels of the Iranian attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities https://t.co/3C7JiTlZGp
— Barbara Malmet (@B52Malmet) September 20, 2019
The plot of Wag the Dog was actually more subtle than this https://t.co/YDsF4teQ4T
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 20, 2019
In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2011