US sending air defence systems to Middle East says Pentagon

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#USAidTolsrael

#Pentagon

The US is deploying additional air defence systems to the Middle East in response to escalations in the region, according to reports from the Pentagon.

In a statement issued on Saturday night local time, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he had "activated the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to locations throughout the [Middle East]".

Austin said the the deployments were in response to "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces"

and to "assist in the defence of Israel". Austin added that he had placed an unspecified number of additional US forces on "prepare to deploy orders" as part of "contingency planning".