The Pentagon is expected to send thousands of additional U.S. troops from the military’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to West Asia, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. This adds to a massive U.S. military buildup even as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about a possible deal to end the war.
Reuters first reported on March 18 that the Trump administration was considering deploying U.S. troops in West Asia. This move would expand options to include the deployment of forces inside Iranian territory. This decision could dramatically escalate the conflict, which is already in its fourth week and has shocked global markets.
No Deployment Into Iran Yet
The officials did not specify where in West Asia the troops would be deployed or when they would arrive in the region. The soldiers are stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 82nd Airborne Division, which can deploy within 18 hours of receiving orders, specialises in parachute assaults.
The U.S. military referred questions to the White House, which said all announcements on troop deployment will come from the Pentagon.
According to one source, no decision has been made yet to send the troops into Iran, but they will build up capacity for potential future operations in the region.
One source said that the Pentagon intends to deploy between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers.
The deployment follows a Reuters report from March 20 about the U.S. decision to send thousands of Marines and sailors aboard the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit and accompanying warships to West Asia.
U.S. Military Build-Up In West Asia
Prior to the deployment of additional personnel, there were 50,000 U.S. troops present in the region. News of reinforcements comes only a day after Trump postponed strikes on Iranian power plants, stating that “productive talks” with Iran were ongoing.
Previously, sources mentioned that the U.S. military was considering options in the Iran war. This includes securing the Strait of Hormuz and potentially deploying U.S. forces to Iran’s shoreline. The Trump administration has also discussed options to send ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the centre of 99% of Iran’s oil exports.
Any use of U.S. ground forces—even for limited missions—could pose significant political risks for Trump. American public support is low for the Iran campaign, and Trump’s own pre-election promises were based on avoiding entangling the U.S. in new West Asian conflicts.
(With inputs from Reuters)
