US Marines arrive in the Middle East

(Patria) - The American ship "Tripoli" with 3,500 American sailors and marines has arrived in the Middle East, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced yesterday on social network X.

"American sailors and marines aboard the 'Tripoli' (LHA 7) arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility on March 27," CENTCOM wrote yesterday.

U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 27. The America-class amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about… pic.twitter.com/JFWiPBbkd2

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 28, 2026

The Pentagon is now considering the next steps in the war with Iran, CNN reported.

According to an earlier report by the media outlet, the Pentagon announced that it would deploy an expeditionary marine unit to the region.

Such units are traditionally used for missions such as large-scale evacuations and amphibious operations that require moving ships to the coast, including raids and attacks.

They also have ground and aviation combat components, and some units are trained for special operations, CNN states.

A source familiar with the deployment told CNN earlier that the presence of an expeditionary marine unit gives commanders additional options "for a range of unforeseen circumstances."