The world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, that has been part of Middle East war operations, arrives in the Croatian coastal city of Split for a scheduled port visit and maintenance stop on March 28, 2026. (Credit: Elvis/AFP)
The U.S. amphibious assault ship Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East, the U.S. military command for the region (Centcom) announced Saturday, amid widespread speculation about the potential deployment of American troops on Iranian territory.
The Tripoli, which is usually based in Japan, arrived in the region on Friday, Centcom said in a statement on X, noting that this helicopter carrier is leading a naval group that includes "about 3,500" sailors and Marines.
It also includes transport and combat aircraft, as well as amphibious assault equipment, the statement added, along with four images. One of the images shows the deck of the Tripoli with several Seahawk helicopters, as well as a few Ospreys, aircraft primarily used for troop transport. Another shows an F-35 fighter jet, capable of taking off and landing on these helicopter carriers.
The arrival of the ship and this expeditionary Marine force comes shortly after comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Friday that the United States could achieve its objectives in Iran without deploying ground troops.
But Donald Trump has maintained some level of ambiguity about this possibility for several weeks, and several American media outlets have reported in recent days that the U.S. president is considering sending at least 10,000 troops to the Middle East in the near future.
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