Hundreds of US special operations forces arrive in Middle East
WASHINGTON, March 30 (YPA) – Hundreds of US special operations troops have arrived in the Middle East and joined thousands of Marines and paratroopers already deployed in the region, The New York Times reported.
According to the paper, the total number of US troops in the Middle East has reached around 50,000, exceeding the usual deployment by roughly 10,000.
The newspaper, citing two US military officials, said the deployment is intended to give President Donald Trump more battlefield options as tensions with Iran continue to rise.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the forces could be used in missions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island or other strategic targets.
US troop numbers in the region normally stand at around 40,000 across bases and ships in countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait , one of the military officials said.
This comes amid rising tensions with Iran, with officials pointing to an elevated state of military readiness.
Separately, The Washington Post reported that US defense officials are preparing for the possibility of a ground operation in Iran. The plan under consideration, according to officials, would fall short of a full-scale invasion but could involve special operations forces alongside infantry units, and may take up to two months to complete.
@E.Y.M