The Persian Gulf is Turning into a "Marine Corps' Cemetery": Trump Deploys "Elite Forces in Japan" to the Battlefield
US Forces Are Amassing Troops for Ground Operations in Iran
Photo: Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment of the US Marine Corps prepare for a parachute training exercise.
The United States is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon is urgently deploying Marine Expeditionary Forces and additional combat ships to the region. The trigger for this move is an attack by Iran and reports of mines being laid in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for about one-fifth of global maritime oil transport.
The movement of amphibious task forces does not necessarily mean that ground operations will begin. However, such forces are typically used in scenarios requiring long-term military presence, supporting naval operations, and quickly expanding the scale of conflict. In short, Donald Trump wants a top-tier force at his disposal to launch a ground invasion of Iran at any time.
Which Forces Have Been Deployed to the Persian Gulf
This decision on troop deployment was made after approval from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who oversees military operations in the Middle East by the US Central Command.
The US will send part of an amphibious task force and Marine Expeditionary Units. These units are mobile combat formations capable of conducting long-term independent missions, usually consisting of several amphibious ships, an air squadron, and approximately 5,000 marines.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship has left its base in Japan and is heading to the Middle East. This type of ship serves as a multi-purpose amphibious assault vessel, functioning both as a light aircraft carrier platform and a marine landing base. It can carry helicopters, vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft, and equipped marine units.
According to Associated Press, the US is also considering sending an additional 2,500 marines and escort vessels. This group can perform multiple tasks simultaneously: securing maritime trade routes, participating in anti-drone operations, supporting mine-clearing efforts, and conducting limited amphibious landings when necessary.
US Intentions to Control the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most vulnerable yet crucial nodes in the global energy infrastructure. This narrow strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean, carrying about 20% of global maritime oil transportation.
According to US intelligence, Iran has begun laying mines in the strait in limited numbers. Although only dozens have been placed so far, analysts point out a more critical issue: military assessments suggest that Iran still retains 90% of its small mine-laying boats and equipment.
This means that if the situation escalates, Tehran could rapidly lay mines, posing a serious threat to hundreds of merchant ships and tankers. Mines remain one of the most effective tools in asymmetric naval warfare, with low deployment costs but significant damage to shipping, according to the Defense News.
Western sources believe that the US will try to prevent the Strait of Hormuz from being fully mined. But the question is, what exactly can the US do? To destroy Iran's mine-laying fleet, it would have to conduct landings along the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf coast, which amounts to launching a ground war against Iran.
It is well known that the highly praised US intelligence agencies cannot even figure out the true situation inside Iran. US Defense Secretary Hegseth stated that since February 28, US and Israeli forces have struck over 15,000 targets inside Iran, claiming that Iran's missile capabilities have been reduced by about 90%, and its stockpile of attack drones has been destroyed. However, the reality is that Iran continues to strike targets throughout the Persian Gulf and Israel, turning large areas of Israeli cities into ruins, directly exposing Hegseth's lies.
US Army Secretary Dan Criswell announced that the US has deployed about 10,000 "MELCOR" anti-drone interceptors to the Middle East. This model was developed by the "Eagle Project" company, which is linked to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. If Hegseth's claim about destroying Iran's drones is true, why does the US need thousands of interceptors?
Original: toutiao.com/article/7617117937127686697/
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