The U.S. Defense Department has authorized the deployment of the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the request from U.S. Central Command on Friday, mobilizing an Amphibious Ready Group of approximately 5,000 Marines and sailors to the region.
The Japan-based flotilla brings an advanced aviation combat element featuring F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The deployment is a direct military response to Iranian disruptions of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime data indicates only 77 ships have successfully transited this month.
The naval maneuver marks the largest concentration of American forces in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The conflict has drawn the attention of the world as international trade faces severe bottlenecks at vital energy chokepoints.
The USS Tripoli’s deployment falls under the ongoing U.S. military campaign designated Operation Epic Fury, which escalated on February 28, 2026. American forces have struck over 15,000 targets inside Iran since the campaign began. The initial six days of the conflict cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $11.3 billion.
US Marine Corps has ~178,000 active-duty personnel total.
The current deployment to the Middle East is one Marine Expeditionary Unit: ~2,200-2,500 Marines aboard amphibious ships (USS Tripoli group) to help secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian attacks.
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The arrival of the amphibious assault ship provides military commanders with sea-based operational options that bypass reliance on local host-nation airbases. The asset supports amphibious operations, civilian evacuations, and targeted strikes designed to secure commercial shipping lanes.
Concurrently, the Israeli military launched a new wave of strikes hitting security checkpoints in Tehran at 10:00 p.m. local time on Friday. U.S. and Israeli operations continue to target Iranian missile infrastructure, naval assets, and defense manufacturing capabilities.