The United States moved its largest space center in the Middle East, the Combined Air And Space Operations Center, at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as tensions with Iran continue to run high.
According to authorities, the move has been planned for some time now, and the center has been temporarily transferred to South Carolina, the Washington Post reported.
This is the first operation of its kind in 13 years where a U.S. command center was moved out the region.
“Iran has indicated multiple times through multiple sources their intent to attack U.S. forces,” Colonel Frederick Coleman, the commander of the 609th Air and Space Operations Center said.
Tension rose on Sept. 14 following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, which Riyadh and Washington have blamed on Iran. Tehran denies responsibility, and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, which has been battling a Saudi-led military coalition, has said it carried out the attack.
