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The Pentagon has ordered the deployment of 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, as reported by The New York Times, citing sources in the U.S. Department of Defense.
The dispatched group is being formed from the "Immediate Response Forces" (IRF), which includes about 3,000 soldiers capable of being deployed anywhere in the world within 18 hours. As noted by NYT sources, the contingent includes two battalions, each comprising approximately 800 soldiers. In the near future, the Pentagon is considering sending additional forces from the IRF to this region.
Considering the 4,500 Marines already heading to the area, the deployment of 2,000 paratroopers increases the total number of additional ground troops deployed in the conflict zone to nearly 7,000. This indicates a new escalation, as emphasized by NYT. Approximately 50,000 military personnel from various countries, including the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S., are involved in Operation "Epic Fury."
Sources from the newspaper reported that American paratroopers will be sent to an area within reach of Iran. It is assumed that the U.S. may use them to seize Khark Island in Iran, which is a key export center for Iranian oil in the northern Persian Gulf.
By the end of this week, about 2,300 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are also expected to arrive in the region. The Pentagon may deploy them for both the seizure of Khark and to assist in unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. Officials note that no heavy equipment, such as armored vehicles that could protect them in the event of a counterattack by Iranian forces, will be sent with the paratroopers to the Middle East.
Recently, NYT reported that the U.S. has presented Iran with a 15-point plan regarding the cessation of conflict in the Middle East. Sources from the newspaper stated that this list mentions Iran's ballistic missile program, Iran's nuclear program, and issues related to maritime shipping. According to Axios, high-profile negotiations between the U.S. and Iran may take place as early as March 26. The publication also mentions the U.S. 15-point plan.
