America deploying extra troops and vessels to the Middle East, according to sources

The United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East, with additional Marines and ships being dispatched to the region just two weeks into the joint US-Israeli operation against Iran, according to reports from US media outlets on Friday.

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US officials, cited by The Wall Street Journal, revealed that the USS Tripoli, currently based in Japan, is en route to the Middle East, accompanied by attached Marines, while The New York Times reported that a contingent of approximately 2,500 Marines, spread across up to three ships, is also headed to the region.

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CNN reported that a Marine Expeditionary Unit, which typically comprises around 2,500 Marines and sailors, is being deployed to the area, marking a significant escalation of US military involvement.

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The request for additional Marines was reportedly made by US Central Command, the division responsible for overseeing US troops in the Middle East, and subsequently approved by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

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The deployment is intended to support existing operations against Iran, where US Marines are already stationed, as noted by The Wall Street Journal.

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The US and Israel initiated a large-scale air campaign against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with a series of drone and missile attacks, as well as targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that facilitates a fifth of global crude trade.