The Pentagon is rapidly accelerating the deployment of thousands of additional U.S. forces to the Middle East, a move that signals a possible shift toward American boots on the ground inside Iran.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a combat-ready force of at least 2,200 Marines, departed San Diego aboard the USS Boxer on Wednesday, weeks ahead of schedule. The early deployment, first reported by Reuters, underscores the urgency gripping military planners as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially blocked, driving up gas prices globally.

Pentagon officials, citing operational security, declined to confirm details of the movement. U.S. Central Command similarly refused to comment on future force posture, offering only that it does not discuss deployments outside its current operational theater.

The Boxer’s departure comes less than a week after another 2,200 Marines and sailors left the Indo-Pacific aboard the USS Tripoli, part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Satellite imagery captured the Tripoli and its escort vessels cutting across the South China Sea on March 15, en route toward the Gulf region.

If both amphibious groups arrive, they will reinforce a growing U.S. military presence already anchored by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which has been actively involved in the ongoing bombing campaign targeting Iranian positions.

At the same time, the USS Gerald R. Ford — another key asset — has been temporarily sidelined and redirected to Crete for repairs following a fire onboard, creating added pressure to sustain force levels in the region.

The rapid deployments come amid mixed messaging from Washington. President Donald Trump publicly denied that additional troops are being sent to the Middle East.

“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump said Thursday at the White House. But he quickly added a caveat: “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”

Behind the scenes, however, administration officials are reportedly weighing a range of increasingly aggressive options, including the use of U.S. air and naval power to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint that Iran has effectively shut down since the war began on February 28.

Discussions have also taken place about the possibility of deploying ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for roughly 90 percent of the country’s oil exports.

The stakes are already high. At least 13 American service members have been killed and roughly 200 wounded since the conflict erupted, and the steady stream of reinforcements suggests the Pentagon is bracing for a prolonged fight.

The administration is preparing to ask Congress for a staggering $200 billion in supplemental funding, a sign that early expectations of a short, four-to-five-week campaign may no longer hold.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)