Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced on Monday the deployment of about 1,000 more troops to the Middle East for what he said were defensive purposes, citing concerns about a threat from Iran.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday that he had met Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and called for a transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received US Secretary oF Defense James Matiss during his visit to Bahrain to participate in the Manama Dialogue Forum.