TEHRAN, June 17: US officials say the Pentagon is sending about 1,000 additional American troops to the Middle East, as commanders try to bolster security for forces and allies in the region from what authorities say is a growing threat from Iran.
Officials say the deployment includes security forces and troops for additional surveillance and intelligence gathering in the region.
The troops are part of a broader military package of options that were initially laid out to US leaders late last month, totaling as much as 10,000 forces, Patriot missile batteries, aircraft and ships.
The latest decision comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top officials reach out to leaders in Asia and Europe to convince them that Iran was behind alleged attacks on shipping along a Middle East oil route.
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Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council is condemning the attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia on June 12 “in the strongest terms.”
A statement issued Monday by the U.N.’s most powerful body called for those behind “these reprehensible actions” to be held accountable.
The council statement, issued after a meeting on Yemen, urged the Houthis and the government “to make progress towards a comprehensive political settlement” of the more than four-year conflict in the Arab world’s poorest country.
Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, has long accused its archrival Iran of backing the rebels.
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Meanwhile, new satellite photos have been released showing the two oil tankers apparently attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week.
The photos from Maxar Technologies are from Monday and show both the Front Altair and the Kokuka Courageous.
The Front Altair caught fire in the explosion last Thursday. Maxar says the satellite photos of the Front Altair show “extensive damage to the starboard side of the tanker caused by the explosion and fire on the ship.”
The U.S. has blamed Iran for the attacks, saying Tehran used limpet mines in the assault like it did when it allegedly targeted four other oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Iran has denied being involved. However, it did use mines in the 1980s against oil tankers. (AP)
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