The USS Tripoli (LHA-7) amphibious assault ship enters the Singapore Strait, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Singapore, March 17, 2026. (Credit: Edgar Su/Reuters)
BEIUT — The U.S. Pentagon has deployed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, a rapid-response force of roughly 2,200 Marines, to the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Officials have not detailed the specific missions for the Marines, who join an already significant U.S. presence in the region, including naval forces aimed at protecting shipping and monitoring Iranian activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.
As of March 13, U.S. media reported that roughly 2,500 Marines and three additional ships, including the Japan-based USS Tripoli, were already being sent to the Middle East to reinforce operations related to the Iran conflict.
