US expected to send thousands of additional soldiers to Middle East, sources say

The Pentagon is expected to send thousands of troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the matter tell Reuters, adding to the massive military buildup even as the Trump administration seeks talks with Iran.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not specify where in the Middle East the troops would be sent to and when they would arrive in the region.

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-expected-to-send-thousands-of-additional-soldiers-to-middle-east-sources-say/

 

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Report: US mulls sending airborne troops to capture Iran's Kharg Island​

Senior U.S. military officials are weighing potential options for deploying forces to Iran, including a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, The New York Times reported, citing defense officials.

Officials told the Times that one option under consideration involves the 82nd Airborne’s Immediate Response Force, a roughly 3,000-soldier brigade capable of deploying within 18 hours. The unit could be tasked with seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.

Under that scenario, airborne troops could later reinforce Marine units. However, current and former officials told the Times that while paratroopers can deploy rapidly, they lack heavy armored equipment that could be critical in the event of an Iranian counterattack.

Marine forces, while suited for initial assault operations, do not have the same capacity for sustained deployments as Army units, officials said. The 82nd Airborne could potentially replace Marine forces after an initial seizure of the island, according to the report.

Report: US mulls sending airborne troops to capture Iran's Kharg Island

Pentagon reportedly weighing contingency plans to deploy about 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division’s rapid-response brigade, along with Marines, though no orders have been issued

www.ynetnews.com