US reduces military presence in Middle East

MENA

Published: 2021-06-19 09:18

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 06:17


Source: Press TV
Source: Press TV

The US Department of Defense announced Friday that it has begun reducing its air defense systems in the Middle East, after it had worked to strengthen them in 2019 and 2020 against the backdrop of tensions with Iran, confirming information reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In a statement, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica McNulty said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "has ordered (...) that this summer some forces and capabilities be withdrawn from the area," noting that it was "primarily air defense equipment."

"Some of this equipment will be returned to the United States for maintenance and repairs that have become absolutely necessary, and some will be relocated to other regions," she added.

The spokeswoman did not say whether the equipment would be redeployed to the Indo-Pacific region, where the Pentagon wants to focus its efforts against the rising influence of China, saying, "We will not give details."

She pointed out that, "this decision was taken in close coordination with the host countries and with a clear vision to preserve our ability to fulfill our security obligations."

According to the Wall Street Journal, in early June the Pentagon began withdrawing eight anti-missile batteries from Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the THAAD anti-missile shield that had been deployed in Saudi Arabia.

Each anti-missile battery requires hundreds of soldiers. And the withdrawal of those batteries means the departure of thousands of American soldiers from the region.

"We maintain a strong military presence in the region, commensurate with the threat, and we are confident that these changes will not affect our national security interests," the spokeswoman added.

She added, "We also maintain the flexibility to quickly return forces to the Middle East if necessary."

"The Department of Defense maintains tens of thousands of troops in the Middle East, representing some of our most advanced air and naval capabilities, in support of US national interests and our regional partnerships," McNulty said.

The United States is currently working to withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan and reduced its military force in Iraq to 2,500 last year.

Several Patriot batteries were sent as part of reinforcements to the region after the killing of the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Major General Qassem Soleimani, in a US strike in January 2020.

The THAAD system was deployed in Saudi Arabia after air strikes targeting two strategic oil sites in the kingdom, which Tehran was accused of being behind.