YANBU, Saudi Arabia – According to the US military commander in the region, the US military is using a series of ports and air bases in the western desert of Saudi Arabia and is developing basic options to use in the event of a conflict with Iran.
The use of the bases, which has not been previously reported, has occurred in the past year or more, as top military commanders seek alternatives to move troops and materiel safely into and out of the region and to increase their exposure to Iran’s ballistic missiles. reduce. .
Several thousand US troops, fighter jets and other weapons have been stationed at the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia since 2019 to respond to local threats from Iran.
The troops were sent by former President Donald Trump, who has cultivated close ties with Saudi leaders, even after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated at a Saudi consulate in Turkey in 2018.
Biden’s government has indicated it intends to take a tougher approach to Saudi Arabia, particularly on human rights issues. However, US officials have insisted that Iran face potential dangers.