The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy around 3,000 soldiers from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations related to Iran, according to two US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Defense officials are expected to formally announce the deployment of a brigade combat team from the division in the coming days, according to the Journal.
While officials emphasized that no decision has been made to send ground forces into Iran, the potential movement of the 82nd Airborne could give President Donald Trump additional strategic options. These could include efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, secure strategic areas, or carry out targeted missions depending on future decisions.