US to send troops to Saudi Arabia as tensions with Iran grow

Gen Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of US Central Command, visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday

The Pentagon has said US troops are being deployed to Saudi Arabia to defend American interests from "emergent credible threats".

The move comes amid heightened tensions with Iran over the safety of shipping lanes in the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia confirmed that King Salman had approved the move "to strengthen regional security and stability".

The kingdom has not hosted US combat forces since 2003, when Donald Rumsfeld announced their withdrawal.

The US presence in Saudi Arabia started with Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

BBC North America correspondent Peter Bowes says the US is understood to be deploying Patriot air defence missile batteries manned by 500 soldiers to Prince Sultan Base in Saudi Arabia.

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The US also plans to send a squadron of F-22 stealth fighters to the base.

"This movement of forces provides an additional deterrent and ensures our ability to defend our forces and interests in the region from emergent, credible threats," a statement from US Central Command said.

What's the background?

Tensions between the US and Iran have worsened since Washington unilaterally withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The US has since tightened sanctions it re-imposed on Iran's oil sector.

Last month, Iran shot down a US surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of violating Iranian airspace. The US insisted the drone had been over international waters at the time, and condemned it as an unprovoked attack.

The US has also called on Iran to release a Panamanian-flagged tanker and 12 of its crew, which was seized by Revolutionary Guards on Sunday during a naval patrol. Iran said the vessel had been smuggling fuel.

Then on Thursday President Donald Trump said a US warship had destroyed an Iranian drone that came too close. Iran has denied losing a drone.

On Friday tensions ratcheted up even higher when Iranian forces seized the UK-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in the Gulf saying it was in breach of regulations.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt demanded the tanker's release, saying there would be "serious consequences" if Iran continued to detain it.

The US has also blamed Iran for two separate attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in May and June - an allegation Tehran has denied.