US announces to send troops, missiles to Saudi Arabia

Washington: The United States will deploy 200 troops and Patriot missiles in Saudi Arabia to defend the kingdom in the wake of recent attacks on its oil installations, according to AFP on Thursday.

The news agency reported that the announcement was made by Pentagon, the US defence ministry, in the wake of last month attacks that Riyadh, its western allies and the United States have blamed on Iran.

The Islamic republic has denied any involvement.

“This deployment will augment the kingdom´s air and missile defense of critical military and civilian infrastructure,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman was quoted by AFP as saying.

The US decision to send more troops to the middle east is likely to draw reaction from Tehran.