US to send more troops to Saudi Arabia, UAE

The Associated Press

5 years ago

During a trip organized by Saudi information ministry, workers fix the damage in Aramco's oil s ... — During a trip organized by Saudi information ministry, workers fix the damage in Aramco’s oil separator at processing facility after the recent Sept. 14 attack in Abqaiq, near Dammam in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media before departing from al-Bateen Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, as U.S. special representative on Iran Brian Hook, left, listens. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media before departing from al-Bateen Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, as State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, second from right, listens. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

The Pentagon says the U.S. will deploy additional troops and military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to beef up security, as President Donald Trump has at least for now decided against any immediate military strike on Iran in response to the attack on the Saudi oil industry.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper says this is a first step, and he is not ruling out additional moves down the road. He says it’s a response to requests from the Saudis and the UAE to help improve their air and missile defenses.

Esper and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, say details of the deployments will be determined over the coming days.

Earlier Friday, Trump said he believes showing restraint “shows far more strength” and he wants to avoid an all-out war.

Trump has laid out new sanctions on the Iranian central bank.

Trump spoke just before he gathered his national security team at the White House to discuss how to respond to the weekend drone and missile attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

He left the door open a bit for a later military response, saying people thought he’d attack Iran “within two seconds.” But he says he has “plenty of time.”