The United States is sending nearly 7,000 additional Army and Marine troops to the Middle East, signaling the possibility of ground operations in the Iran war.
Though President Donald Trump has repeatedly said “I’m not putting troops anywhere,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters March 25 that Trump “does not bluff” and is prepared to “unleash hell” against Iran.
The Pentagon has ordered 2,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, including its 1st Brigade Combat Team, to the region. That directive, issued March 25, follows the deployment of two 2,200-member Marine Expeditionary Units, the first on March 13 and the second on March 19.
It was not known where the ground units will be positioned. Their presence gives Trump additional leverage as diplomatic negotiations continue. Iran rejected a 15-point peace plan offered by U.S. officials March 25.
Can’t see our graphics? Click here to reload the page.
The Army and Marine units will be in addition to about 50,000 U.S. military personnel who are already part of the war.
Iranian leaders have criticized Trump for increasing U.S. forces in the area and say he is preparing for a ground operation. Administration officials refused to rule out occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
Who are the Army and Marine troops being sent to Iran?
A look at the units and dates of assignment:
March 13 | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit: 2,200 Marines aboard the USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group – the USS Boxer (LHA-7) and the USS New Orleans (LPD-18) − are due to arrive in the Middle East within days. A third amphibious group ship, the USS San Diego(LPD-22), remained at its base in Okinawa, Japan.
March 18-19 | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit: 2,200 Marines and sailors left Naval Base San Diego aboard the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group – the USS Boxer (LHD-4), the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD-45) and the amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD-27) − on March 18-19. They’re expected to arrive in the Middle East in mid-April. The unit is based in Camp Pendleton, California, near San Diego.
MEUs are fast-moving seaborne units capable of responding to crises ranging from embassy reinforcements and evacuations to amphibious raids and humanitarian relief. They’re designed to be self‑sustaining for about 15 days of operation.
An Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit usually has about 2,200 Marines and sailors who are part of the MEU, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. About 2,000 sailors are on the three amphibious ships.
March 25 | 82nd Airborne Division: About 2,000 paratroopers of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, including its 1st Brigade Combat Team, will be sent to the Middle East, multiple news sources reported March 25.
Though the reported numbers of Airborne troops deployed vary from 1,000 to 2,000, they will come from its Immediate Response Force, which is able to mobilize anywhere in the world within 18 hours, according to Stars and Stripes.
Brigade combat teams are trained and equipped to deploy overseas quickly and conduct parachute assaults to enter territory by force.
The 82nd Airborne’s unit, some of which used to be part of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, is nicknamed the “Devils in Baggy Pants,” according to the Army – a name given by Nazi forces during World War II.
The division is known as the Army’s emergency response team. It specializes in joint forcible entry operations and high-stakes missions to seize military hostile areas. It’s based at Fort Bragg, formerly Fort Liberty, in North Carolina.
CONTRIBUTING Greta Cross and Cybele Mayes-Osterman
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Naval Institute; U.S. Army; U.S. Marine Corps; Stars and Stripes
