🇺🇸🇸🇦🇶🇦🇮🇷⚡️ — NEW: Washington is moving to shield Gulf energy infrastructure as the possibility of renewed major combat operations against Iran hangs over the region.

The U.S. military has sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent weeks to protect key oil and gas facilities, Axios reports.

The deployment follows a month-long wave of targeted attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi energy infrastructure, including Yanbu, the East-West pipeline and other Aramco facilities.

The move is meant to reassure both Gulf allies that Washington will defend their critical energy sites if President Trump decides to resume major combat operations against Iran.

@IntelSlava