About 2,200 Marines and three warships are expected to head toward the Middle East as the war against Iran continues.
The Marine Expeditionary Unit departed California earlier this week.
“The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is aboard the USS Boxer, the USS Comstock and the USS Portland — along with 2,000 sailors,” ABC News reports.
Three Navy ships carrying 2,200 Marines left San Diego earlier this week for a previously scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific, but two U.S. officials tell ABC News their ultimate destination is likely the Middle East. https://t.co/iRfNy0Ec2T
— ABC News (@ABC) March 20, 2026
ABC News shared further:
If it receives final orders to the Middle East, joining the 31st MEU, it will be an increase of close to 9,000 additional forces to the region.
The 31st MEU is still on its way to the Middle East from Asia after receiving orders from the Pentagon last Friday. Those Marines and ships are likely to arrive in the region sometime next week.
ADVERTISEMENTIt will take two weeks for the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group to get to southeast Asia, then additional time to make its way to the Middle East if it gets final orders to go there.
Included in the MEU: ground forces, a logistical element and aviation units that include fighter jets, MV-22 Ospreys and attack helicopters.
Last week’s deployment of the 31st MEU to the Middle East has sparked speculation as to whether they might be used to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf — crucial to Iran’s oil trade — or carry out raids on the Iranian shoreline around the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump was asked on Thursday if U.S. troops would be put on the ground in the Middle East.
“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump said.
“If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops,” he added.
Watch below:
President Trump says he's "not putting troops anywhere" when asked whether he intends to deploy more U.S. troops to the Middle East.
"Iran is a serious threat to the world, to the Middle East and to the world, and everybody agrees with me. I think virtually every country agrees… pic.twitter.com/tYY4tC1ndZ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 19, 2026
The Hill has more:
Reuters reported that the troops departed the U.S. about three weeks ahead of schedule.
A Pentagon official told The Hill that due to operations security, it does not discuss “future or hypothetical movements.”
U.S. Central Command, which manages forces in the Middle East, also declined to comment as it “will not speculate on future force posture, or discuss movements that are not in our [area of operation].
ADVERTISEMENTThe additional Marines would head to the Gulf region less than a week after another unit of 2,200 Marines and sailors left for the area aboard the Japan-based USS Tripoli.
Satellite images showed the Tripoli along with two escort ships were traveling southwest across the South China Sea on March 15. The ship carries personnel from the 31st MEU, which contains ground and aerial combat units.
ABC News provided additional coverage:
What do you make of it?
