United States forces have installed Patriot missiles in launchers on trucks at the Al-Udeid military base in Qatar, the largest American base in the Middle East, indicating a new escalation in tensions with the Iranian regime.
According to information from the Reuters agency published on Tuesday (10), William Goodhind, an analyst at the research group Contested Ground, said that satellite images from early February showed Patriot missiles positioned on M983 expanded mobility tactical trucks (HEMTT) in Al-Udeid, a measure that would speed up mobility in the event of offensive or defensive attacks in the region.
“This decision provides the Patriots with much greater mobility, meaning they can be moved to an alternative location or repositioned more quickly,” said Goodhind, who highlighted the increase in aircraft and other military equipment in the region compared to January.
The report was published on the same day that United States President Donald Trump said he was considering sending another aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East – the USS Abraham Lincoln group has been in the Indian Ocean since the end of January.
“Either we will reach an agreement or we will have to do something very hard like last time,” said the American president on Tuesday, in reference to the attack that the United States carried out in June last year against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear agreement that had been signed in 2015 between Iran and six powers, so that the Iranian nuclear program would be restricted to peaceful purposes, and resumed sanctions on Tehran.
However, since returning to the White House in January last year, the Republican has been pressuring Iran to make another agreement.
Last Friday (6), representatives from the USA and Iran held negotiations in Oman and the second round of talks is expected to take place next week.
