USS Tripoli and About 3,500 Sailors and Marines Reach Middle East

The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and the sailors and Marines aboard it have arrived in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command announced. “US Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility, March 27,” the command said in a statement quoted by Anadolu Agency.

The Tripoli leads an expeditionary force of about 3,500 sailors and Marines, according to Anadolu and Task & Purpose. Task & Purpose said the group also includes the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans and that about 2,200 of the personnel are Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Military Times reported the ship left its homeport of Sasebo, Japan, earlier this month.

The arrival comes amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which both Military Times and Anadolu said began Feb. 28. Military Times reported that the group began moving after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly approved a Central Command request for more support to curb Iran’s attacks across the region.

The Tripoli is not the only reinforcement. Military Times and Task & Purpose both reported that elements of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are slated to deploy to the Middle East; Task & Purpose put the number at least 1,000 soldiers. Task & Purpose also said a second amphibious group, led by USS Boxer with roughly 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, left San Diego on March 18. Stars and Stripes, citing reports, said the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops, though that has not been confirmed in the other outlets read.

U.S. forces in the region have been hit. Military Times, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported a strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia that wounded 12 U.S. service members, two seriously, and reportedly damaged refueling aircraft. Stars and Stripes, citing the Associated Press, said an Iranian missile and drone attack on the base injured at least 15, five seriously.

Stars and Stripes noted that Central Command’s post did not give a troop count, and that earlier reports had indicated more than 2,000 personnel.