The US Department of Defense is reportedly considering a special military request to send about 5,000 additional troops to the Middle East. A Reuters report cites two officials who said the petition came from the US Central Command. One of the officials said the deployment would be defensive in nature and that it was not yet clear whether the Pentagon could approve. It appears to be the latest request for additional resources in the face of what US officials have said a credible threat from Iran. It comes after us accelerated a deployment of a Carrier Strike Group and sent bombers and Patriot missiles to the region earlier this month.