The United States is redeploying an elite Marine Corps unit from Japan to the Middle East, according to The Telegraph. The report said the force is a 2,500-strong rapid response group designed to move quickly to crisis zones and operate with little warning. Reports Tengrinews.kz.
The unit is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is usually based on Okinawa. It can operate from a floating base at sea, allowing it to stay close to a conflict area without relying on land facilities. The Marines are reportedly traveling aboard the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship that can also serve as a light aircraft carrier for F-35B fighter jets.
US officials have not publicly explained the exact mission of the deployment. However, the report said the force may be tasked with helping restore control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that has come under growing pressure amid attacks on shipping. Recent media reports have suggested Washington is also considering broader military steps against Iran.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the US was sending additional forces to the region after Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz intensified. Disruptions there have pushed energy prices higher. Tehran, for its part, has repeatedly warned that it is ready to respond if American ground forces enter Iranian territory.
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