Kamal Ghorui
The Pentagon has ordered about 2,000 soldiers from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to begin moving to the Middle East, offering President Donald Trump additional military options as he considers a new diplomatic initiative with Iran, two Defence Department officials said Tuesday.The troops are part of the division’s “Immediate Response Force,” a brigade of around 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours. The contingent includes Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the division commander, along with dozens of staff members and two battalions of about 800 soldiers each, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to operational sensitivity.The deployment comes alongside approximately 4,500 Marines already heading to the region, taking the total number of additional US ground troops sent since the conflict began to nearly 7,000. The move signals a fresh escalation, with around 50,000 troops currently assigned to the broader operation, named Epic Fury, spanning the Middle East, Europe and the United States.Officials said the exact destination of the paratroopers remains unclear, though it would place them within striking distance of Iran. One possible objective could be Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub in the northern Persian Gulf, where US warplanes have struck more than 90 military targets this month.Meanwhile, about 2,300 Marines from the 31st Expeditionary Unit are expected to arrive in the Middle East this week. Commanders could deploy them either to seize Kharg Island or assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed to most commercial traffic. Another similar-sized Marine contingent from the 11th Expeditionary Unit departed Southern California last week and is likely to reach the region by mid-April, Pentagon officials said.Military planners believe Marines could play a key role in early operations, particularly in repairing the damaged airfield on Kharg Island following recent US strikes. Once restored, the airstrip could allow the Air Force to bring in additional troops and equipment via C-130 cargo aircraft.In such a scenario, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division could reinforce Marine units. However, officials noted that while these forces can deploy rapidly, they lack heavy equipment such as armoured vehicles, which may be critical in the event of an Iranian counterattack.
