U.S. Marine forces are scheduled to enter the Middle East this week as two amphibious ships transition into the U.S. Central Command area, U.S. officials said. The Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and the amphibious landing dock USS New Orleans are due to cross into CENTCOM on Friday, carrying roughly 2,200 Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Officials noted the movement coincides with a presidential deadline tied to the Strait of Hormuz. While the ships will arrive in the Central Command zone on Friday, the unit is not expected to reach the Strait immediately - it will take several additional days for the force to arrive at that location, according to the officials.
In addition to the Tripoli and New Orleans transit, the Pentagon has directed a second Marine unit to prepare for deployment to the region. The California-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit will embark aboard the USS Boxer amphibious ready group and is slated to depart in a few weeks, officials said.
The movements involve amphibious platforms and Marine expeditionary units that are staging into CENTCOM waters and will take time to position. The initial contingent numbers roughly 2,200 Marines from the 31st MEU, with an additional unit queued to follow in the coming weeks aboard the Boxer ready group.
Officials characterized the arrival schedule as phased: the ships will enter the Central Command area on Friday, but the operational timeline for reaching the Strait of Hormuz spans several more days, and the follow-on deployment from the West Coast will occur after a short delay measured in weeks.
Contextual summary: U.S. officials report that two amphibious ships carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will cross into the Central Command area on Friday, transporting about 2,200 Marines. It will take additional days for that unit to reach the Strait of Hormuz, and a second Marine unit - the 11th MEU aboard USS Boxer - has been ordered to depart in a few weeks.