Pentagon plans new marine unit deployment to Middle East

The Pentagon plans to deploy a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Middle East this fall, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, citing sources.

The incoming unit is expected to replace the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been stationed in the region since June.

At the same time, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of some US units in the Middle East through 2027. According to the newspaper, the deployment of air-defence units is planned to continue indefinitely. These forces are part of a broader contingent of about 50,000 US troops stationed across the Middle East.

The US military is also rotating its air assets, with F-16 fighter jets from the US Air National Guard replacing combat aircraft returning to Aviano Air Base in Italy.

According to the newspaper’s sources, the moves are intended to give President Donald Trump the military resources needed for a potentially longer confrontation with Iran. US authorities are preparing for the possibility that the military campaign against Iran could continue until the end of Trump’s presidential term.

By Jeyhun Aghazada