Saudi Arabia and Qatar feared that their energy facilities could be targeted in possible Iranian retaliation, prompting the US to send two Patriot batteries to the countries.
One Patriot battery was sent to Saudi Arabia last month to protect a major oil facility. The other battery, sent to Qatar, was deployed to protect a natural gas facility.

Axios, citing sources who did not want to be named, reported that Washington aimed to reassure Saudi Arabia and Qatar in case President Donald Trump launched another attack on Iran.

As Trump was planning a major attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure in early August, the two countries feared that Iran would retaliate by attacking their oil and natural gas facilities.
US officials said Trump therefore preferred to apply economic pressure on Iran instead of launching an attack.