FE Today Logo

US troops in S Arabia facing Iran’s ‘real regional conflict’

February 29, 2020 00:00:00


RIYADH, Feb 28 (Arab News): US officers deployed at a base in Saudi Arabia have spoken about the new threat posed from Iran to the Kingdom and the region as a whole.

About 2,500 troops are now based at the Prince Sultan Air Base after the US decided to return a large military presence to the Kingdom last summer after almost 17 years.

The base, south east of Riyadh, stations F-15 fighter jets that fly missions against Daesh over Iraq and Syria and Patriot missile batteries, to help defend from Tehran's attacks, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"We face a thinking enemy that is playing a real regional conflict for keeps, and they're very good," Gen. John Walker, the commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing at the base, said of Iran.

A series of attacks in the region last year have been blamed on Iran, including simultaneous missile and drone strikes on two major Saudi oil installations in September.

US defence officials say they have shored up air defences since the attack that temporarily halted 5 per cent of global oil supplies, the Journal reported.

"Regardless of how inexpensive the drone may be, the impact of the damage the drone may cause outweighs what we would consider to be cost- or not-cost-effective in terms of the Patriot missile system," Lt. Col. Tom Noble said.


Share if you like