About 900 U.S. troops have deployed or will soon go to the Middle East to “further bolster U.S. force protection capabilities” in the region, the Pentagon’s top spokesman said Thursday.

“These include forces that have been on prepare to deploy orders, and which are deploying from the continental United States,” press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

The units are meant to accompany and operate a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and Patriot battalions that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this week ordered to be spread across the region.

The THAAD battery will come from Fort Bliss, Texas. Patriot batteries will come from Fort Sill, Okla., additional Patriot and Avenger batteries will ship from Fort Liberty, N.C. Associated air defense headquarters elements will be sent from Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos, Texas, Ryder noted.

He added that the forces would not be going to Israel and are “intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further bolster U.S. force protection capabilities.”

Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise over the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. and coalition forces have been attacked at least 12 times in Iraq and four times in Syria since Oct. 17. The assaults have consisted of a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets.

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