US orders new troops to Middle East to counter Iran 'threat'

The United States announced Friday it was deploying 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East in response to what the Pentagon called an "campaign" of recent attacks approved by Iran's top leadership. The escalation of the US military presence follows a decision in early May to send an aircraft carrier strike force and B-52 bombers in a show of force against what Washington's leaders believed was an imminent Iranian plan to attack US assets. "This is a prudent response to credible threats from Iran," said acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.