The US Department of Defense is expected to present new plans to the White House on Thursday aiming at increasing American troops in the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated, DW reported.
“Sources quoted by news agencies said the extra personnel would be deployed in a defensive capacity. While the AP news agency said up to 10,000 extra personnel were being requested, Reuters put the number at about 5,000,” said the report.
DW referred to confidential officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, who said “the discussion would also include a request for additional Patriot missile batteries and more ships in the area.”
The United States has already deployed a navy carrier strike group to the Middle East.
National Security Adviser John Bolton said, at the time, that ““The United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.”
Both Tehran and Washington declared that they are not waging war but expressed their readiness to defend their interests if necessary.
