BALDWIN: CNN following multiple events unfolding right now in the Middle East. Another Iranian oil tanker may have come under attack. And after abandoning Kurdish forces currently under attack by Turkey, the United States just announced it's sending an additional 1,500 troops into Saudi Arabia.</s>MARK ESPER, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: In response to continue threats in the region, I have ordered the deployment to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia of two additional fighter squadrons and supporting personnel, along with additional Patriot and THAAD air and missile defense batteries. Taken together with other deployments I have extended or authorized within the last month, this involves about 3,000 United States forces.</s>BALDWIN: Nic Robertson is our CNN international diplomatic editor. And he has more on the reasoning behind the move. Nic, why is this happening now?</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, it appears in part because the sort of normal transition between two aircraft carrier battle groups in the Gulf is hitting a hiccup. The incoming carrier group, the main battle carrier, has an electrical issue on board the ship, so it can't make it in on time. So the only obvious backup is put in aircraft based on land, plus the forces to go with them to man them. So this is quite a significant ratcheting up, but one of the reasons -- one of the reasons, clearly, because most of the forces the U.S. has sent, in addition to Saudi Arabia, over the last few months or so have been defensive. They have been to -- Patriot missile batteries and the troops that man those. This is clearly an offensive capacity. And, of course, just we know today reports of an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia...</s>BALDWIN: Yes.</s>ROBERTSON: ... supposedly hit by missiles, although we have seen no evidence of it so far.</s>BALDWIN: Can you tell me more about that?</s>ROBERTSON: Yes, sure. I mean, what -- what we heard
U.S. Deploys Additional 1,500 Troops to Saudi Arabia