The Pentagon is deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East, a rapid response unit typically comprised of around 2,500 Marines and sailors, three officials familiar with the matter told CNN. It’s not yet clear what the MEU will be used for or where exactly it will be deployed, but CBS News last night suggested that the deployment of the Marine troops could aim at gaining control of a swath of Iranian territory which borders the Straits of Hormuz, an action necessary if the U.S. were to be able to gain control of the Straits, according to their analysts.
Today CBS, its partner BBC, and many other media, reported details of the additional U.S. forces on their way to the Persian Gulf. They report an amphibious assault group, led by the USS Tripoli, which has left its recent position near the Philippines. In addition, there are at least two other vessels, which together can accommodate more Marines, for a total of 5,000.
This morning, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “Many countries … will be sending war ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.” No country has confirmed this, but he said: “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K., and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated. In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”
