US sends Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia, Qatar to protect oil, gas facilities - report

According to the report, the US wanted to reassure the countries that their key energy facilities would be protected in case major combat operations resume within the region. 

The US military sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in order to protect the countries' oil and gas facilities in recent weeks, Axios reported on Friday morning, citing two US officials and one regional source. 

According to the report, the US wanted to reassure the countries that their key energy facilities would be protected in case major combat operations resume within the region. 

In August, both Saudi Arabia and Qatar's concerns over Iranian strikes were a key reason US President Donald Trump decided not to attack and to rely on economic pressure instead, Axios cited US officials as saying. 

The US would need Saudi Arabia to allow the use of its airspace for major combat operations to resume, according to Axios. 

Trump has made frequent threats against Iran if it is unable to reach a deal with  the US, saying on Thursday that he had to make a decision: "either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer."

US sends additional air carrier, Marine division to Middle East

This comes as the US boosts its military presence in the Middle East, deploying a third aircraft carrier and a second Marine division, a US official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. 

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and an additional division of US Marines are currently en route to the Middle East for an extended deployment. The Roosevelt departed from San Francisco on Sunday.

Notably, US Naval Institute News reported that the Roosevelt was moving to US Central Command's area of operations in order to relieve the Washington. 

However, a US official told Axios that the decision of whether or not the Roosevelt would be replacing another carrier had not been made. 

In addition, the USS Boxer amphibious ready group is deployed in the Arabian Sea, carrying the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, alongside the USS Portland and USS Comstock.