3 US officials revealed that about 2,500 marines will be deployed along with the USS Boxer and escort warships, but the specific mission is unclear. 2 officials affirmed that Washington has not yet made a decision on deploying ground forces to Iranian territory.
According to assessments by some experts, the deployment of the Boxer amphibious assault group and the 11th Marine Corps is a step in support of Operation Horrific Fury against Iran. The Pentagon declined to comment on the information, while the White House emphasized that force preparation does not mean an action decision has been made.
Ms. Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, said that the Pentagon's mission is to facilitate the US President, and reiterated that Donald Trump has no plans to deploy ground forces at the present time.
If confirmed, this will be the second amphibious combat group deployed by the US to the region. Previously, the ARG Tripoli group and Marine Expeditionary Unit 31 had left the Pacific to head to the Gulf region, expected to participate in operations targeting Iran.
Some sources say the Trump administration is considering a plan to blockade Kharg Island, which is considered Iran's oil export center, to put pressure on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A US official said that if necessary, the possibility of capturing the island or launching an amphibious landing campaign could also be considered, although there is no final decision yet.
Previously, the US conducted large-scale airstrikes targeting military targets on Kharg Island but not targeting oil and gas infrastructure. Experts believe that deploying troops to the island will be a significant escalation, requiring a long and potentially risky operation.
Kharg Island is about 32km from the mainland, making the forces deployed here possible targets of weapons from Iran. Landing ships also face challenges when moving through the Strait of Hormuz, where there is a potential risk of being attacked by suicide boats, anti-ship missiles and asymmetric combat methods.
