Washington, 2 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The United States has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent weeks to protect key oil and natural gas facilities amid the possibility of renewed US military operations against Iran, according to a report by Axios citing two US officials and a regional source. One Patriot battery was deployed to Saudi Arabia to protect a key oil facility, while the other was sent to Qatar to safeguard a natural gas facility. The deployments are reportedly aimed at reassuring the two US allies that Washington would help protect their critical energy infrastructure if President Donald Trump decides to resume major combat operations against Iran. The report said Saudi and Qatari leaders had urged President Trump in August not to launch strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, fearing possible retaliation by Tehran against oil and gas facilities in their countries. US officials told Axios that these concerns were among the factors considered by Trump when he opted at the time for an economic pressure campaign instead. The latest deployments come as the United States is sending additional warships, troops and aircraft to the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are among the US forces heading to the region.