As U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran enter their third week, the United States is accelerating its military deployments in the Middle East. Three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, March 20 that the U.S. military is sending thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the region to enhance operational capabilities.
Officials noted that no decision has yet been made to send troops directly into Iran, but the primary purpose of this reinforcement is to prepare for potential future military operations and strengthen overall combat and response capabilities.
The deployment includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, its embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and multiple accompanying warships. Earlier reports indicated that the U.S. government was considering sending additional forces to the Middle East to support ongoing military operations.
However, former President Donald Trump said on Thursday in response to reporters’ questions that he had not sent troops “anywhere,” while also emphasizing that if forces were deployed, it would not be announced in advance.
Anonymous sources revealed that the specific missions of the reinforcement units have not yet been finalized. One official stated that the troops departed the U.S. West Coast about three weeks earlier than planned, with one expeditionary unit numbering around 2,500 Marines.
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Currently, the U.S. has approximately 50,000 troops stationed in the Middle East. With the new deployments, the region will host two Marine Expeditionary Units simultaneously. The first unit, dispatched from the Indo-Pacific region, is expected to arrive in the Middle East next week.
Reuters reported that these expeditionary units are highly mobile and capable of performing a range of missions, including air strikes from shipborne aircraft and ground deployment operations if necessary.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is also adjusting aircraft carrier deployments. The USS Gerald R. Ford, previously damaged by a laundry room fire, has been sent to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, for repairs. The U.S. plans to send the USS George H.W. Bush to replace it, taking over duties from the Ford, which has been deployed for over nine consecutive months.
Multiple military options on the table
Sources indicate that the U.S. military is developing multiple plans for the next phase of operations against Iran. Since beginning on Feb. 28, the scope of the strikes has steadily expanded.
One option is securing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes. The U.S. may consider deploying forces along Iran’s coastal areas to ensure safe shipping.
Additionally, the Trump administration reportedly discussed the possibility of sending ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, which handles about 90 percent of its crude oil shipments.
Pentagon data shows that U.S. forces have struck around 7,000 targets within Iran and destroyed or damaged more than 40 Iranian mine-laying ships and 11 submarines, with the scale of operations continuing to expand.
U.S. war official Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon is seeking an additional $200 billion in funding to cover current military operations against Iran.
Hegseth said, “There’s room for adjustments in the $200 billion. But clearly, taking out the bad guys costs money.”
He added that he would return to Congress to coordinate with colleagues to ensure the military has sufficient funds for both completed and potential future missions. This funding will replenish U.S. ammunition used in current operations and allow stockpiles to “far exceed” levels before the U.S.-Israeli coalition began bombing Iran.
Currently, the U.S. still maintains a large weapons stockpile, though some ammunition reserves have declined due to aid provided to Ukraine against Russia.
On March 15, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CBS’s Face the Nation that, as of that date, military operations against Iran had cost about $12 billion, with the conflict expected to last another four to six weeks.
By Gao Yun
