INDOPACOM Commander Confirms Patriot Battalion has Been Sent to the Middle East
Moving an entire Patriot battalion out of INDOPACOM you would think would be a huge signal to Iran they are about to get smashed if they don’t reign in the Houthis:
U.S. Patriot missile defense systems were recently moved from Asia to the Middle East amid ongoing fighting with Houthi rebels in Yemen and threats from their backers in Iran, the leader of Indo-Pacific Command told lawmakers this week.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Adm. Samuel Paparo said the Army had transferred a Patriot battalion from INDOPACOM to the Central Command area of operations as the military builds up its defenses in the region. Tensions have been escalating since the U.S. launched a fresh barrage of airstrikes against the Houthis last month, with President Donald Trump vowing to keep up the pressure until the militants halt attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Trump also has threatened to go after their backers in Iran if the maritime attacks don’t stop.
You can read more at the link.
This (mostly) isn’t about the Houthis. The ‘military option’ is being used for leverage in nuclear negotiations. Bombing drills using nuclear capable assets have been conducted multiple times the past few months. There’s rumors of tactical nukes being included in the planning, and B61-13 program is being accelerated to be ready by spring 2026. Original timeline was 2030.