Washington, United States. The U.S. military is deploying a large amphibious assault ship carrying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday. The move comes as Iran’s new supreme leader issued a message referring to Iran’s “unity” and “resistance”.
Deployment and Strait of Hormuz concerns
Reuters previously reported that Washington, seeking to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has shut since the U.S. and Israel attacked almost three weeks ago, was considering deployments up to and including landings. Oil prices have risen around 50% since the start of the war.
Trump comments on allies
The news came shortly after President Donald Trump criticized U.S. allies for declining to help open the strait while fighting continued. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” he wrote.
Officials decline to specify troop role
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not say what the role of the additional troops would be.
Regional holidays as war continues
As Muslims around the region marked Eid al-Fitr, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, and Iranians observed Nowruz, the Persian New Year, the prospect of a quick end to a war about to enter its fourth week appeared remote.
Message from Iran’s new supreme leader
Mujtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, who has not been seen in public since the Israeli attack that killed his father and predecessor on the war’s first day, posted a Nowruz message on his Telegram channel. “The enemy believed that by targeting the leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and influential figures, it could instil fear and force the people to withdraw,” it said.
What do you think the deployment signals about the next phase of the conflict?
