The United States military has expedited the deployment of thousands of Marines and amphibious ships to the Middle East, a move linked to ongoing hostilities with Iran. This operation underscores the heightened military readiness in the region.
According to sources cited by Newsmax, a naval task force led by the USS Boxer, along with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is departing from the West Coast of the United States ahead of schedule. The task force includes the dock landing ships USS Portland and USS Comstock.
Approximately 4,000 personnel are aboard these vessels, including 2,500 Marines. The ships are equipped with F-35 fighter jets, missiles, and landing craft designed for amphibious operations.
The task force is expected to transit through the Indo-Pacific region before arriving in the Middle East, where it will join the USS Tripoli. Additional support from the USS New Orleans cruiser and the USS Rushmore dock landing ship is anticipated.
In total, the deployment aims to position around 8,000 military personnel in the conflict zone, with nearly 5,000 of them being Marines.
This troop movement comes amid reports of a potential U.S. ground operation aimed at seizing the Iranian island of Kharg, which is critical to Tehran’s oil industry. Concurrently, President Donald Trump has stated that he does not intend to deploy American troops in the Middle East and expressed no fear of a scenario reminiscent of the Vietnam War should a ground operation in Iran commence.
The U.S. military is rapidly deploying troops and naval assets to the Middle East, reflecting escalating tensions with Iran. This operation involves significant personnel and equipment aimed at enhancing military readiness in the region.