Some 3,500 sailors and Marines arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command said. The force includes the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, which carries fighter jets, transport aircraft and amphibious vehicles. Their arrival comes against the backdrop of the stalled negotiations between the US and Iran, and alongside reports that the administration is considering a ground operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or remove Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles from the country.
They are an advance force for the ground capabilities the US administration is reportedly seeking to build up in the region. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, including infantry units and armored vehicles. They would join about 5,000 Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who have already been ordered to move Middle East. That Marine force is made up of the Tripoli personnel, who have just arrived, and another expeditionary unit that is making its way from California to the region.
According to Pentagon officials familiar with the planning who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, the forces will most likely be positioned within operational range of Iran and Kharg Island, which is responsible for 90% of Iranian oil exports.
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They are an advance force for the ground capabilities the US administration is reportedly seeking to build up in the region. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, including infantry units and armored vehicles. They would join about 5,000 Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who have already been ordered to move Middle East. That Marine force is made up of the Tripoli personnel, who have just arrived, and another expeditionary unit that is making its way from California to the region.
According to Pentagon officials familiar with the planning who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, the forces will most likely be positioned within operational range of Iran and Kharg Island, which is responsible for 90% of Iranian oil exports.
First US ground force arrives near Iran amid negotiations
Some 3,500 sailors and Marines arrived in the Middle East, while additional forces are on their way to the region. The Wall Street Journal reported the number
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