US Sends Roosevelt and Marines to Gulf after Meeting Saudi Airspace Demand

The buildup follows the recent deployment of two Patriot missile batteries to critical oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Washington sent the systems to deter retaliation after a month of Houthi militia attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, including Yanbu and the East-West pipeline. In August, Saudi and Qatari leaders had previously urged the administration to avoid targeting Iranian energy sites to prevent reciprocal strikes on their own facilities.