YANBU, Saudi Arabia – The US military has used a variety of ports and air bases in the western desert of Saudi Arabia, developing base options to use in case of conflict with Iran, according to the top American military commander in the region.
The use of the bases, which has not been previously reported, occurred over the past year or so, while top military commanders are looking for alternatives to safely move troops and material into and out of the region and to reduce their exposure to the ballistic missiles of the Will .
Several thousand American soldiers, jet fighters and other weapons have been stationed at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Force Base since 2019 to respond to Iran’s regional threats.
The troops were deployed by former President Donald Trump, who cultivated close ties with Saudi leaders even after the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey in 2018.
The Biden government has signaled that it plans to take a tougher approach to Saudi Arabia, especially on human rights issues. However, the potential continued dangers posed by Iran remain an important consideration, US officials said.