The United States is deploying approximately 2,500 Marines to the Middle East as the war with Iran enters its third week, U.S. officials said Friday. Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Japan and currently at sea in the Pacific, are redirecting to the region aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and as many as three warships, according to an anonymous U.S. defense official who spoke to the Associated Press.

The move bolsters more than 50,000 American troops already in the Middle East and comes as Iran has ramped up assaults near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments where about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Iranian forces have questioned vessels, threatened mining operations, and disrupted tanker traffic since late February, contributing to Brent crude prices remaining above $100 per barrel and higher gasoline costs in the U.S. Last week, President Donald Trump indicated he might direct Navy warships to escort merchant vessels through the strait, echoing U.S. operations during the 1980s tensions with Iran.

The Marine Expeditionary Unit is versatile, trained for amphibious landings, embassy security, civilian evacuations, and disaster relief, though officials did not specify its exact role in the conflict. The deployment was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the request of U.S. Central Command.

The war erupted on February 28, 2026, when the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iranian targets, including high-level officials, following months of buildup. Tensions had simmered since the late 2025 protests in Iran over economic collapse and inflation, met with a government crackdown that killed thousands, according to human rights groups. The Trump administration cited Iran's restarted nuclear program, missile developments, and protester massacres as justifications, alongside goals of regime change.

Prior reinforcements included the carrier strike groups of USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, F-22 Raptors in Israel, F-15E Strike Eagles in Jordan, and additional warships. Diplomatic efforts in Oman and Switzerland failed amid incidents like Iranian tanker seizures and drone shootdowns.

U.S. forces have struck over 15,000 targets in Iran so far, including a pro-government rally in Tehran on Friday, where Iranian state media reported chants of "death to America." Trump posted on Truth Social that as the 47th president, ending Iran's 47 years of killing innocents was an honor, and said the conflict would end "when I feel it in my bones." Hegseth dismissed oil supply worries, saying the U.S. was handling the strait.

Iran's resilience has surprised U.S. officials, with continued retaliation against U.S. bases, Israel, and Gulf states. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it a "dangerous escalation" and urged an endgame plan. A U.S. KC-135 tanker crashed in Iraq today, killing all six crew members, amid intensified operations.