{"id":42809,"date":"2018-09-26T17:58:08","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/26\/us-to-remove-several-missile-defense-systems-from-the-middle-east\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:35:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:35:18","slug":"us-to-remove-several-missile-defense-systems-from-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2018\/09\/26\/us-to-remove-several-missile-defense-systems-from-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"US to remove several missile defense systems from the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Next month the United States will remove several Patriot air and missile defense<\/a> batteries from four countries in the Middle East, according to the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, citing multiple U.S. military officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department will remove two batteries from Kuwait, and one each from Bahrain and Jordan, as the U.S. military shifts its focus to adversaries like Russia and China, as well as Iran. The batteries will be taken offline and returned to the U.S. to be refurbished and upgraded before being relocated. According to an official, there are no plans to replace the systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this realignment, the U.S. military says it is maintaining its commitment to allies in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cU.S. Central Command is strongly committed to working with our allies and partners to promote and provide regional security and stability,\u201d said Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the command. \u201cU.S. forces remain postured to conduct operations throughout the region and to respond to any contingency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t