The Pentagon has ordered elements of the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East, significantly expanding US forces in the region as President Donald Trump weighs both diplomatic and military options toward Iran.
According to US officials, The New York Times (NYT) and Financial Times (FT), around 2,000-3,000 troops from the division’s Immediate Response Force – capable of deploying globally within 18 hours – have been directed to move.
As per the FT, the dispatch of elite paratroopers along with two Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), will add roughly 10,000 troops to the 50,000 already stationed in the region.
The USS Tripoli, carrying about 2,200 members of the 31st MEU, is expected to arrive in the Middle East by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, with an additional 4,500 troops – including 2,200 Marines from the 11th MEU – is expected to arrive in three to four weeks, FT’s report adds.
The move marks a significant escalation and brings US forces closer to readiness for a potential ground operation. Analysts cited by the FT noted that the presence of both airborne troops and Marine Expeditionary Units suggests preparations for scenarios beyond airstrikes.