The United States is deploying the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and thousands of Marines to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate, Axios reports. Shipping disruptions intensified in the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials told Axios that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the deployment after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) requested additional troops to expand military options in the region.
The move would bring more Marines, warships and advanced aircraft to support U.S. troops already stationed there.
Iran has recently taken action in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a fifth of the world’s oil shipments. Iran has disrupted maritime traffic, raising concerns about energy supplies and global economic stability.
