The U.S. is sending more troops to the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to build after several encounters between American and Iranian vessels.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of an Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit into U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, according to a CENTCOM announcement. The deployment will bring additional aviation and maritime assets, as well as U.S. Marines to the region.
The Pentagon didn’t immediately say how many troops would be deployed, but the Navy says such a group typically has assault and landing ships, aircraft and about 5,000 people. The move comes just days after the U.S. announced that it would send a destroyer and fighter aircraft including F-35s to the Persian Gulf in response to Iranian seizures and harassment in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
