US Increases Military Presence in Middle East
More US Marines and warships are being deployed to the Middle East, two officials confirmed to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
The officials stated that the reinforcements would come from an amphibious ready group and its Marine expeditionary unit, with one official adding that the group would be led by the Japan-based USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship.
The unit headed by the USS Tripoli typically consists of around 5,000 sailors and Marines distributed across several warships.
Context of Deployment Amid Regional Conflict
This development occurs as President Donald Trump declared that US forces had "totally obliterated" Iranian military infrastructure on Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipping.
Retaliatory Iranian strikes targeting Israel and US military bases across the Middle East have disrupted major international air travel hubs and caused oil prices to surge.
When asked about the timing for the US Navy to begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump told reporters on Friday:
"It will happen soon."
Official Reports and Military Requests
The movement of US personnel was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.
It also reported that the request for reinforcements was made by US Central Command, the branch of the US military responsible for the Middle East, and approved by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The BBC has reached out to the US military and the Pentagon for comment; however, future troop movements are typically not publicly confirmed.
Additionally, the US is relocating parts of a missile defence system installed in South Korea to the Middle East, according to officials cited by the Washington Post and South Korean news outlets.
Statements from US Leadership
Earlier, Trump stated that Iran would be hit "very hard" over the coming week, adding that the war with Iran would conclude when "I feel it in my bones."
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also declared that the US military would show "no mercy for our enemies."
Military Actions and Iranian Response
The Pentagon announced this week that it had struck 6,000 Iranian targets over two weeks of conflict, which began when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former leader and aged 56, made his first public address on Thursday, stating that Tehran would continue to block the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement read by a newsreader on Iranian state TV, he vowed to "avenge the blood" of Iranians killed in the war with the US and Israel, and warned neighbouring countries to cease hosting US bases.
