US beefs up defences in Gulf in the wake of Iran crisis

Washington: Officials say as the Obama administration edges toward imposing tougher sanctions on Iran, it has begun upgrading its approach to defending its Gulf allies against potential Iranian missile strikes.

The United States has quietly increased the capability of land-based Patriot defensive missiles in several Gulf Arab nations, and one military official said the Navy is beefing up the presence of ships capable of knocking down hostile missiles in flight.

The officials discussed on Saturday aspects of the defensive strategy on condition of anonymity because some elements are classified.

The moves have been in the works for months and are part of a broader adjustment in the US approach to missile defense, including in Europe and Asia.