The Pentagon has ordered at least 2,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East amid intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran, signalling a possible new chapter in the ongoing war. Military officials said the move follows a recent increase in missile and drone attacks across the region, particularly on US and allied forces.
Officials describe the deployment as a rapid response to evolving threats. The troops, drawn from the United States Army's Immediate Response Force, are trained for rapid movement into hotspots worldwide and can be ready to fly within 24 hours. Their arrival is expected to bolster defences around key strategic points, including the crucial Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have disrupted global oil shipments.
