The Pentagon is moving three U.S. warships and thousands of Marines into the Middle East, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal, adding to American military presence in the region at a time of heightened tensions with Iran.
Defense sources said the force slated for Central Command includes an amphibious ready group centered on the California-based USS Boxer and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The number of Marines assigned to the deployment is estimated at roughly 2,200 to 2,500. U.S. Central Command has overall responsibility for American military operations across the Middle East.
This shipment of forces represents the second major Marine movement to the region within a short span. Earlier this week the Pentagon sent the Japan-based USS Tripoli together with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the same theater of operations.
Officials made clear that the new deployments are occurring even as President Trump publicly stated he did not intend to order American ground troops into Iran. That statement came one day prior to the reported dispatch of the Boxer group and the additional Marines.
Separately, reports earlier cited by Axios indicate the Trump administration is reviewing plans that could involve seizing or imposing a blockade on Iran's Kharg Island as a way to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Those deliberations were described in previous reporting and are part of the broader set of measures under consideration.
The sequence of troop and ship movements, together with the administration's ongoing policy discussions, has resulted in multiple U.S. deployments to the region within a limited period. Officials have not provided additional operational details beyond the units named, the estimated number of Marines, and the ships involved.
Context and next steps
At present, the publicly reported information centers on the units being sent, their estimated strength, and the fact that these movements follow earlier deployments. The administration's reported deliberations regarding Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz were described in separate reporting and remain matters under consideration.
Reporting is based on statements attributed to U.S. officials and prior reporting cited by media outlets.