WASHINGTON: The U.S. military is sending thousands of additional Marines and sailors to West Asia, three U.S. officials said on Friday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no decision had been made to send troops into Iran but that they would enhance their capabilities for future operations in the region. The USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with approximately 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are en route to West Asia from its home port of San Diego, an official confirmed. Two other U.S. officials confirmed the ships were being deployed but did not disclose their destination. One of the officials said the troops would leave the United States about three weeks earlier than originally planned. The White House and Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. The additional deployment will add to the 50,000 U.S. troops already stationed in West Asia and will send two Marine expeditionary units to the region. These units, which typically consist of 2,500 Marines, can be used for a variety of reasons, including conducting strikes using aircraft aboard ships, or deployed on land. Sources have previously said that the US military is preparing for possible next steps in the war U.S. military steps up efforts to clear Strait of HormuzU.S. warplanes and attack helicopters are stepping up attacks on Iranian drones and naval vessels in an escalating military campaign to clear the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials said. Gen. Dan Cain, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that low-flying Air Force A-10 Warthog aircraft were “hunting fast attack vessels operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards” in the disputed sea lanes. Kaine added that some regional allies, whom he did not identify, were using Apache helicopter gunships to “deal with one-way attack drones,” one of Iran’s most potent weapons used to strike the Persian Gulf. The United States is considering plans to seize Iran’s Khargah island to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources.Belarus lifts fertilizer restrictionsThe United States on Thursday lifted sanctions on three Belarusian companies that produce key ingredients for fertilizer as the war sends fertilizer prices soaring and threatens farmers’ profits. Washington, D.C.’s move was in exchange for the release of 250 political prisoners in Minsk. mechanism