Thousands of U.S. Army Paratroopers Arrive in Middle East, Reuters Says

U.S. Navy/Reuters

Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of the U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury.

Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, ‌two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, as President Donald Trump weighs his next steps in the war against Iran.

The paratroopers, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, add to the thousands of additional sailors, Marines and Special Operations forces sent to the region. Over the weekend, ⁠about 2,500 Marines arrived in the Middle East.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not say specifically where the soldiers were deploying to, but the move was expected.

The additional Army soldiers include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters, some logistics and other support, and one brigade combat team.

No decision has been made to send troops into Iran, but they will build up capacity for potential future operations in the region, one of the sources said.

The soldiers could be used for several purposes in the Iran war, including an attempt to seize Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran's oil exports.

The internal Trump administration discussions have also included potentially putting U.S. troops inside Iran to secure safe passage for oil tankers through the ⁠Strait of Hormuz. While that mission would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, it could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline.

President Trump said on Monday the United States was in talks with a "more reasonable regime" to end the war in Iran, but repeated his warning to ⁠Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S. attacks on its oil wells and power plants.

Source: Reuters



PUKMEDIA