Additional US troops have arrived in the Middle East as the Pentagon weighs weeks-long ground operations in Iran.
The new forces add to around 50,000 troops, several warships and two aircraft carriers already positioned in the region as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its second month.
US Marines in Mideast
The US military announced on Saturday the arrival of thousands of Marines in the Middle East, the first of two contingents expected to join forces in the region.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that about 3,500 Sailors and Marines have arrived in the region aboard the amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli, which serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and attached 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The Tripoli Group also brings transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets. The Marine Expeditionary Unit can conduct ground operations as well as other missions including securing embassies, evacuating civilians, and disaster relief.
More Troops to Region
The Pentagon is planning to deploy more forces to the region, including thousands of soldiers from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, reported Reuters.
Furthermore, the USS Boxer and two other ships, along with another Marine Expeditionary Unit, will deploy to the region from San Diego, according to the Associated Press (AP).
These troops will join a significant military buildup in the region – the largest in 20 years – including two aircraft carriers (USS Gerald R. Ford and Abraham Lincoln), multiple warships and around 50,000 troops.
The Ford aircraft carrier left the Middle East for repairs following a fire in a laundry room. However, the Pentagon has ordered the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group to CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.
It remains unclear if the Bush carrier will join or replace either of the two US aircraft carriers already in the region.
Ground Operation Plans
The arrival of these troops comes as the US is considering carrying out ground operations in Iran. According to the Washington Post (WP), citing US officials, the Pentagon is embracing for weeks of ground operations in Iran.
These potential operations could involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops. However, it remains unclear if President Donald Trump has decided on the Pentagon’s plans.
Commenting on the WP report, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “it’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision.”
Leavitt warned on Tuesday that Trump was “prepared to unleash hell” against Iran if it did not give up its nuclear ambitions.
In the meantime, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Friday that Washington can achieve its objectives “without any ground troops.” He said that the US was sending some troops to the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge.”
Seizing Kharg Island
The Pentagon objectives include the potential seizure of Kharg Island – a critical crude export hub located 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, serving as a terminal for 90% of Iran’s oil shipments. Earlier this month, the US military destroyed all military targets on the island.
The plans also involve raids into other coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to locate and destroy weapons that can target commercial and military shipping, according to the officials.
One source estimated the objectives to take “weeks” to achieve, while another official said they will take “a couple of months.”
