The United States has sent a Patriot anti-missile defense battery to Israel amid heightened concerns of a Middle East war. Pentagon sources said the heightened tension in the Middle East prompted a decision to place on alert U.S. forces in Germany and Italy. They said Washington has been concerned about an Iraqi attack on Israel amid reports that several Iraqi divisions have moved close to the Syrian border. The San Antonio Express-News published a copy of a U.S. military order that on Jan. 11 raised the alert status of U.S. forces from Threatcon Bravo to Alpha.
Alpha is a heightened alert of a terrorist attack.
Pentagon officials said the Patriot missile brigade will participate in an exercise in Israel scheduled for Feb. 8. The exercise will last 15 days. A Patriot missile battery and personnel are expected to arrive by ship on Feb. 4 and join Patriot batteries already deployed in the Jewish state. Tom Collins said.