White House (Times Of Ocean)- A senior Biden administration official confirmed the decision to transfer large numbers of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia because the kingdom believes they are crucial to their defence system.
During the Biden administration’s efforts to ease tensions in the increasingly complicated US-Saudi relationship, the US has transferred a number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, a senior administration official confirmed that the interceptors have been sent to Saudi Arabia.
According to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss an unannounced decision, the move was in line with President Biden’s promise that the United States would always stand by its friends in the region.
Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, condemned Houthi forces in Yemen after they launched a barrage of fierce drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia’s critical energy facilities, sparking a fire at one site and cutting oil production at another.
As the kingdom continues to face air attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the US moved its Patriot defence system from Prince Sultan Air Base outside of Riyadh in September.
According to the kingdom, the interceptors are crucial to defending against Houthi attacks.