US assault ship USS Tripoli brings thousands of Marines to Mideast
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, has arrived in the Middle East carrying some 3,500 sailors and Marines, the US Central Command said on Saturday.
The ship, which is usually based in Japan, arrived in the region on Friday.
The deployment comes amid rising fears that the US preparing to invade Iranian territory.
The warship is also carrying "transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets," the US Centcom said.
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 vessel was ordered to the Middle East some two weeks ago.
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said the US could achieve its objectives in the war without deploying ground forces, US President Donald Trump has remained vague regarding his true intentions.
Apart from the USS Tripoli, the USS Boxer and two other ships have also been ordered to the Middle East from the US port of San Diego as the US amasses troops in the region.
