The U.S. military has added Patriot air defense systems in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Axios reported on October 1, local time.

Axios reported that this bolstering of air defense capabilities is in preparation for a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to resume large-scale combat operations against Iran.

Axios stated that the U.S. military sought to reassure these Middle Eastern allies that it would defend energy facilities from Iranian retaliatory strikes.

President Trump stated that he is considering the option of resuming bombings against Iran within the coming weeks.

Meeting with reporters that day, he said, "A decision must be made now," adding, "Either Iran signs an agreement, or they cease to exist."

Saudi Arabia and Qatar actively dissuaded President Trump in early August when he considered large-scale bombings targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and other sites.

This was due to concerns that Iran might retaliate against Saudi oil facilities and Qatari natural gas facilities.

U.S. officials previously stated that appeals from these Gulf nations led President Trump to change his strategy from military operations to economic pressure.

In particular, the U.S. military must utilize Saudi airspace if it resumes large-scale combat operations against Iran.

It is projected that Saudi Arabia would likely refuse to grant airspace access to the U.S. military if it feels its oil facilities are not protected.

The U.S. military is expanding warships, fighter jets, and troops in the Middle East in preparation for the possibility of a resumed all-out war.

A U.S. official stated that the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego, California, on September 27 and is heading to the Middle East.

The Roosevelt carrier strike group is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East by mid-November to join the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and the USS George Washington carrier strike group.

A U.S. official said, "This means the possibility of up to three carrier strike groups deployed in the Middle East," adding, "This represents significantly greater firepower."

However, another U.S. official stated that it remains undecided whether the Roosevelt carrier strike group will replace an existing carrier strike group or be added outright.

A U.S. official stated that three amphibious ships carrying thousands of Marines belonging to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) also departed for the Middle East on September 28.

These forces are expected to arrive in the Middle East by late November to join other amphibious ready groups and marine expeditionary units deployed over the past few months.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)