Thousands of soldiers from the US Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, two US officials told Reuters on Monday. The paratroopers, deployed from Fort Bragg Air Force Base in North Carolina, join the thousands of sailors, marines and special operations forces already deployed to the region. Over the weekend, about 2,500 Marines arrived in the Middle East.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say exactly where the troops were stationed, but the move was expected.
Additional Army forces include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division command, logistics units and other support structures, as well as a combat brigade.
No decision has been made on sending ground troops to Iran, but they will bolster capacity for possible future operations in the region, one of the sources said.
The military could be used in several types of missions in the war with Iran, including an eventual operation to seize Kharg Island, through which about 90 percent of Iran's oil exports pass.
Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States was in talks with a “more reasonable regime” to end the war in Iran, but reiterated a warning to Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk US attacks on oil fields and power plants.
Any use of US ground troops, even in a limited mission, could involve significant political risks for Trump, given the low US public support for the Iran campaign and his election promises to avoid involvement in new conflicts in the Middle East.
Since operations began on February 28, the US has launched strikes on more than 11,000 targets. More than 300 American servicemen were injured and 13 lost their lives during Operation Epic Fury.
