The Pentagon is deploying another three-ship Marine Corps expeditionary unit — with about 2,500 Marines aboard — to the Middle East in the second such reassignment as President Trump attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
The San Diego-based USS Boxer amphibious assault ship and two other ships comprising the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are sailing to the region – a voyage that will take weeks — the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press reported Friday.
A different expeditionary unit of similar size is already en route, including the Japan-based USS Tripoli and two other ships. That group was spotted crossing the Strait of Malacca north of Singapore as of Wednesday and is expected to reach the waters near Iran by the end of March.
Trump has not ruled out ordering troops to storm Iran’s coastline to secure the waterway. He said Thursday he had no immediate plans for boots on the ground in Iran, but also suggested he wouldn’t telegraph military moves in the press.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the latest deployment.
