In response to media reports on the U.S. having withdrawn some Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon’s spokesperson confirmed “the redeployment of certain air defence assets”, while noting that “the Defense Department continues to maintain tens of thousands of forces and a robust force posture in the Middle East representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of U.S. national interests and our regional partnerships”. The Saudi government asserted that “the redeployment of some [U.S.] defence capabilities… is carried out through common understanding and realignment of defence strategies as an attribute of operational deployment and disposition”.