Middle East
More than 2,000 Marines, USS Tripoli ordered to Middle East, reports say
Staff and wire reports
March 13, 2026
Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Logan Bonaguidi, right, grades a target during a live-fire exercise aboard America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli on March 12, 2026. (Colten Bradley/U.S. Navy)
More than 2,000 Marines and at least one warship are headed from the Pacific to the Middle East, multiple news outlets reported Friday.
One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that roughly 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to deploy.
ABC News reported that the deployment will include three amphibious ships. Tripoli has recently been operating with Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, including amphibious transport docks USS New Orleans and USS San Diego, in the Philippine Sea. Tripoli was participating in the three-week Iron Fist exercise in Japan as recently as Monday.
The Wall Street Journal, which was first to report the news, cited three officials who said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a U.S. Central Command request for an element of an amphibious ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit.
The Pentagon did not respond a request for comment.
Tripoli would join the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as the USS Abraham Lincoln as part of an armada of American warships, stealth fighters and air defense systems in the region. About 50,000 troops have been deployed.
It is unclear what assets are being brought on Tripoli. The 855-foot America-class amphibious assault ship in 2022 set a record when it loaded 16 F-35 fighter jets. The ship can also carry MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and a variety of helicopters such as the MH-60S Seahawk.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is based at Okinawa. Marine expeditionary units integrate air and ground combat elements into a single force, making it suited for amphibious operations. Aside from the standard tasks such units are trained for, like humanitarian assistance and port seizure operations, the 31st MEU is also trained for limited scale raids and the seizure of maritime platforms, according to its website.
The deployment does not necessarily mean U.S. troops will conduct a ground operation in Iran.
The deployment comes as concern has grown about global energy prices as fighting disrupts trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil exports. CENTCOM on Thursday said it had struck over 90 ships, including 30 minelayers.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC in an interview Thursday the U.S. Navy is not ready to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Wright’s comments come after a post on his social media account wrongly claimed on Tuesday that the Navy had escorted a tanker through the strait.
The Tripoli would not be the only asset sent from the Pacific region to the Middle East. The Pentagon is moving parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from South Korea to the Middle East, prompting a statement from the South Korean president earlier this week.
Operation Epic Fury began nearly two weeks ago when U.S. and Israeli forces struck targets across Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. Thirteen U.S. service members have died during combat operations as of Friday, six of whom died when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in Iraq on Thursday.
Contributing: Stars and Stripes reporters Seth Robson, Matthew Adams and Alison Bath; The Associated Press.