Breaking: US Expands Military Presence In Middle East In Surprise Move

The reinforcement includes the deployment of the USS Boxer, its Marine Expeditionary Unit, and accompanying naval vessels.

This move comes just a day after President Donald Trump publicly denied any plans to deploy U.S. troops to the region.

Donald Trump had ruled out sending ground forces to the Middle East as the Iran-related conflict entered its fourth week.

Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump said: “I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary.”

However, officials who spoke anonymously confirmed on Friday that the deployment is underway, though they did not disclose the exact mission of the additional forces.

One official also revealed that the troops departed from the U.S. West Coast about three weeks earlier than scheduled.

The development appears to contradict Trump’s public remarks, even though he suggested he would not disclose military plans in advance.

Earlier reports indicated that the administration had been weighing the option of sending thousands of troops to strengthen operations in the Middle East.

The conflict has already resulted in casualties, with 13 U.S. service members reportedly killed since Iranian strikes began targeting American bases after hostilities escalated on February 28.

The situation continues to intensify as the Iran conflict enters its fourth week, with rising losses reported on both sides.

In recent days, Israel has also reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, including security and intelligence leaders.

Meanwhile, Iran has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering concerns of a global energy crisis. In response, Trump has urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to deploy naval support to secure the vital shipping route.