WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that the total number of US armed forces that will be deployed in Saudi Arabia will be about 3,000 personnel and that "the remaining forces will arrive in the coming weeks." In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate, Trump wrote that in July, US Armed Forces have been deployed to the Middle East "to protect United States interests and enhance force protection in the region against hostile action by Iran and its proxy forces." He affirmed that "Iran has continued to threaten the security of the region, including by attacking oil and natural gas facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 14, 2019." He noted that "to assure our partners, deter further Iranian provocative behavior, and bolster regional defensive capabilities, additional United States Armed Forces have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East." He indicated that "the first of these additional forces have arrived in Saudi Arabia and the remaining forces will arrive in the coming weeks," he said.
He added that "with these additional forces, the total number of United States Armed Forces personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be approximately 3,000." He affirmed that these personnel "will remain deployed as long as their presence is required to fulfill the missions described above.
"I have taken this action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests," Trump stressed.
In October, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional troops "to assure and enhance the defense of Saudi Arabia," where "taken together with other deployments this constitutes an additional 3,000 forces that have been extended or authorized within the last month." (end) si.bs