WASHINGTON – The United States is considering deploying more troops to theMiddle East as it looks for ways to enhance the protection of its forces inthe turbulent region, acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan saidThursday.
But Shanahan denied news reports that plans call for the deployment of asmany as 10,000 more troops to the region, where tensions between the US andIran are on the rise.
“What we’re looking at, are there things that we can do to enhance forceprotection in the Middle East?” he said, speaking to reporters at thePentagon. “It may involve sending additional troops.”
The Pentagon has dispatched B-52-bombers and a Patriot missile battery tothe region, and accelerated the deployment of an aircraft carrier strikegroup to the Gulf.
The movements have come in response to intelligence warnings of aheightened threat to US interests in the Middle East.
But they have also provoked skepticism among members of Congress who worrythat brinksmanship with Tehran could lead to a dangerous miscalculation.
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Shanahan earlier in the week said the US response had put the threat “onhold.”
“We have deterred attacks based on reposturing of assets — deterredattacks against American forces,” Shanahan told reporters Tuesday afterdelivering a classified briefing to the full US Congress.
“Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation. Wedo not want the situation to escalate,” he said. -APP/AFP
