SUNDAY TIMES WEB DESK: However, the Republican leader played down the potential for military conflict in the region, saying he believed Iran did not want a confrontation with the United States.
“We want to have protection in the Middle East. We’re going to be sending a relatively small number of troops, mostly protective,” Trump said as he left the White House for a trip to Japan.
The Pentagon said only about 900 of the 1,500 troops will be newly deploying and that 600 are already in the region and will be extended. It said they include Patriot missile battery personnel, manning for surveillance aircraft and engineers.
“Right now, I don’t think Iran wants to fight. And I certainly don’t think they want to fight with us,” Trump said.