Secretary of War Pete Hegseth approved the movement of additional Marines and warships to the Middle East after a request from US Central Command. USCENTCOM asked for "an element of an amphibious-ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit," the Wall Street Journal reports.
The deployment is part of the United States' Operation Epic Fury that began on February 28 with strikes on Iran made by both Israel and the US. The USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group is heading for the Persian Gulf along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. There have been additional flights of Marines deployed to the region in recent days.
Hegseth on Friday gave a press conference where he discussed the issues being had with shipping in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. "The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping. It is open for transit should Iran not do that," he said.
In Hegseth's view, Iran has been "exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz" in attempting to mine the strait and by shooting at boats. Both Hegseth and President Donald Trump have said that the US has decimated Iran's Navy. Trump has also moved the USS Abraham Lincoln to head to the Gulf.
“We have a plan for every option here,” Hegseth said. “We’re working with our interagency partners. That’s not a strait we’re going to allow to remain contested or a lack of flow of international goods.”
"We retain a range of options to solve a whole variety of problems," confirmed Chair of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine.
When asked about the deployment by the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon declined to comment. However, an official told the outlet that "the additional assets would initially be involved in strike operations on Iran."
There have been ongoing concerns about whether or not the US would deploy troops on the ground in Iran. CENTCOM has also asked for two additional destroyers that could aid tankers and commercial ships going through the Strait.
The deployment is part of the United States' Operation Epic Fury that began on February 28 with strikes on Iran made by both Israel and the US. The USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group is heading for the Persian Gulf along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. There have been additional flights of Marines deployed to the region in recent days.
Hegseth on Friday gave a press conference where he discussed the issues being had with shipping in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. "The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping. It is open for transit should Iran not do that," he said.
In Hegseth's view, Iran has been "exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz" in attempting to mine the strait and by shooting at boats. Both Hegseth and President Donald Trump have said that the US has decimated Iran's Navy. Trump has also moved the USS Abraham Lincoln to head to the Gulf.
“We have a plan for every option here,” Hegseth said. “We’re working with our interagency partners. That’s not a strait we’re going to allow to remain contested or a lack of flow of international goods.”
"We retain a range of options to solve a whole variety of problems," confirmed Chair of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine.
When asked about the deployment by the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon declined to comment. However, an official told the outlet that "the additional assets would initially be involved in strike operations on Iran."
There have been ongoing concerns about whether or not the US would deploy troops on the ground in Iran. CENTCOM has also asked for two additional destroyers that could aid tankers and commercial ships going through the Strait.
