Trump denies, Pentagon does not rule out .. US conflict on sending troops to the Middle East

There have been conflicting US reports and statements about Washington's intention to send more troops to Saudi Arabia. While a senior Pentagon official did not rule out the matter, President Donald Trump dismissed the news as "false news."

On Thursday, the US military struggled to explain its plans for a possible troop increase in the Middle East amid fears of more hostilities in the region.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters their country was considering sending thousands more troops to the Middle East to deter Iran, but has not made a decision yet and the situation remains unclear.

Officials cited intelligence over the past month indicating that Iran is repositioning troops and weapons.

The Pentagon on Wednesday vehemently denied a report by the Wall Street Journal that the United States was considering sending an additional 14,000 troops to the region.

On Thursday, lawmakers pressed John Rudd, the Pentagon's third-largest official, on whether to consider sending additional troops to the Middle East.

"Based on what we see and with our concern about the magnitude of the threat, we may need to adjust the status of our forces," Rudd said. "We always think and in fact, based on the state of the threat in the Middle East, we are watching it, and the defense minister told me that if necessary he intends to make changes to the status of our troops there."

The deputies were disappointed by Rudd's answers. Republican Senator Josh Hawley said he wanted to hear from Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

"I would like to hear from him today about this issue," Hawley said. "I want that publicly because the Pentagon has so far made multiple contradictory statements."

The United States has already sent about 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East since May, backed by bombers and air defense personnel, to deter what Washington says is Iran's "provocative behavior."

The Pentagon's openness to deploying additional troops is no surprise, given the ongoing planning to counter the potential for escalating tensions with Iran, which is suffering from US sanctions and protests.

Tension has surged in the Gulf since attacks on oil tankers over the summer, including off the UAE coast, as well as a major attack on two oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. The United States has blamed Iran, which has denied being behind the attacks on the world's energy infrastructure.