U.S. Deploys Two More Patriot Batteries to Saudi Oil and Qatari Gas Sites

The United States has reportedly deployed two additional Patriot batteries to protect energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid concern over renewed conflict with Iran. Reporting based on two US officials and a regional source places one battery at a Saudi oil site from September and another at a Qatari natural gas facility. The deployments are intended to reassure both governments that Washington will help defend infrastructure vulnerable to retaliatory attacks. The specific sites, units, launcher numbers and interceptor configurations have not been disclosed, and US Central Command declined to comment on the reported movements.