What Happened On Sept. 26, the United States announced it was sending yet another batch of military forces to the Persian Gulf in the wake of Iran's recent attack on Saudi Arabia. The deployment includes a U.S. Patriot missile defense battery and four Sentinel radar systems, along with an additional 200 personnel to operate the equipment. The radar units, in particular, are designed to detect low-flying threats, such as the cruise missiles and suicide drones the Iranians allegedly used to strike two Saudi oil processing facilities on Sept. 14. The U.S. military has also put two more Patriot batteries, as well as a battery of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system, on standby for quick deployment if needed. Why It Matters Following its announced withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May 2018, the United States has continued to intensify its sanctions campaign against Iran.