The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East as the
Trump administration escalates pressure on Iran amid a fragile ceasefire,
according to U.S. officials. The deployment includes about 6,000 sailors and
Marines aboard the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and roughly 4,200
troops from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group. The forces will reinforce a
maritime blockade targeting Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S.
officials said the buildup is intended to increase leverage in negotiations but
also provides options for further strikes or potential ground operations if
diplomacy fails.
