ISTANBUL

The US has relocated its Patriot missile defense batteries within South Korea amid the ongoing US-Israel offensive on Iran, Yonhap News reported Friday.

The batteries were relocated to the Osan Air Base in the city of Pyeongtaek from other US bases in South Korea, it said, adding the move comes “amid speculation that the US Forces Korea (USFK) could deploy part of its assets” to the Middle East.

More than 28,500 American troops, under USFK, as well as military bases and weaponry, are deployed in South Korea under a mutual defense treaty.

It added that relocated assets included C-5 and C-17 US transport aircraft which were detected in the air base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the capital Seoul, according to the sources.

However, the report added, it “remains uncertain whether the relocation of the Patriot missile batteries to Osan Air Base is related to the allies' annual springtime Freedom Shield exercise set for March 9-19.”

Last June, the US had deployed its two Patriot batteries from South Korea to the Middle East when Washington launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The missile batteries were returned to South Korea in October.

Tensions in the Middle East are high as Israel and the US continue their large-scale strikes on Iran for the seventh day.

Iranian authorities say nearly 1,000 people have been killed in the attacks, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several senior military officials, and dozens of school girls.

Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.