U.S. to deploy three more warships and about 2,500 Marines to Middle East, officials say

A U.S. Navy sailor signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran at an undisclosed location March 4, 2026. U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The United States is sending three additional warships and roughly 2,500 Marines to the Middle East, U.S. officials said on Friday, in a move that would expand the American military presence in the region as fighting involving Iran continues.

One U.S. official told The Associated Press that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with about 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were heading to the region from San Diego. Reuters reported that the deployment also includes additional Marines and sailors, though the officials did not disclose the mission of the incoming forces.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the military movements. One of them said the forces were leaving the U.S. West Coast about three weeks ahead of schedule.

The deployment comes after Reuters reported that President Donald Trump’s administration was weighing broader military reinforcements for the Middle East. Trump told reporters on Thursday that he was not sending troops “anywhere,” but added that he would not discuss such plans publicly. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters said.