US is sending troops to Saudi Arabia after the devastating drone and missile strikes on Saudi oil fields

Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed

Workers are seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019.

The United States will send additional troops to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to beef up security, following last weekend's attack on oil fields in Saudi Arabia.

In a Friday evening press conference, Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford announced that "all indications are that Iran was responsible for the attacks." They explained that the US is responding with a "moderate deployment" of additional forces.

Dunford said that it was "fair to say" this deployment would not involve thousands of troops.

"We haven't decided on specific units," the general told reporters. He explained that the US is providing capabilities to enhance air and missile defense.

Last Saturday, Saudi oil facilities were struck by drones and missiles in an attack that the US has blamed on Iran, a country that has also been blamed in recent months for mining oil tankers, pirating vessels, and shooting down unmanned aircraft, among other hostile behavior.

"Iran has increased its military activity through direct attacks and support to its proxies in the region," the secretary said Friday evening.

The lastest troop increase follows the significant deployment this summer of strategic military assets to deter troubling Iranian behavior. Among the assets sent to the region were a carrier strike group, bomber and fighter squadrons, air defense systems, and ground troops.

This is a developing story.