US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of a battery of THAAD missile defense systems, as well as additional Patriot missile batteries, in the Middle East.
A statement by the minister, published by the Pentagon press office, said that after consultations with US President Joe Biden, a decision was taken to “strengthen the position of the Ministry of Defense in the aforementioned region.”
Russia and China call for the US THAAD system not to be deployed in South Korea
During this, the minister pointed out that the United States had previously sent the aircraft carrier "Gerald R. Ford" with five escort ships, as well as the aircraft carrier "Dwight D. Eisenhower" with three escort ships, to the Middle East.
Austin said: "I also ordered the deployment of a THAAD missile defense battery and several additional battalions of the Patriot air defense system in the region, to enhance the protection of American forces there. Preparation was also given for the deployment of additional forces to enhance readiness and the ability to respond quickly if necessary."
The American minister stressed that these measures are being taken within the framework of "contingency planning," and noted that the deployment of additional American forces "will help in deterrence, enhance the protection of American forces in the region, and help defend Israel."
He said: "I will continue to analyze the situation, study the requirements for deploying our forces in the region, and evaluate the need to deploy additional forces there."
Russian forces bomb ammunition depots for militants in Syria
The Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria announced that the Russian Air Force carried out three air strikes on militant hideouts and ammunition depots in the Syrian province of Idlib.
Deputy Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria, Vadim Collet, said: “The Russian Air Force carried out three air strikes on three targets of irregular armed groups in the villages of Dwair al-Akrad and Kabana.”
He added that as a result of the attack, two underground hideouts for militants and an underground ammunition depot were destroyed.
Collett stated earlier that the Russian Air Force carried out 5 air strikes on warehouses and training camps for militants in the Syrian province of Idlib.
On August 5, the Russian Air Force and its Syrian counterpart destroyed the headquarters of the terrorist organization “Al-Nusra Front” in a neighborhood in the city of Idlib in an air strike.