Washington, 25 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - The US Department of Defense is preparing to deploy about 3,000 troops from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, US media reported on Tuesday.

The US special forces are trained to conduct airborne operations using parachutes.

According to several media reports citing unnamed US officials, the plan involves sending around 3,000 troops to the Middle East to support operations against Iran. It remained unclear how concrete the plans are.

The Wall Street Journal reported that no decision has yet been made on whether to send ground troops into Iran itself. However, the deployment of the troops opens up several strategic options for US President Donald Trump.

Politico concluded that the troop build-up in the Middle East hints at a violent takeover of the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for oil transport.

The New York Times was the first to report on the Pentagon’s plans and wrote that the forces could be deployed to capture Iran’s most important oil export port on Kharg island.

Thousands of marines have already been deployed to the Middle East.

According to earlier US figures, there are more than 50,000 troops in the region. Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran just over three weeks ago and Iran retaliated with counter-attacks in the region.

The 82nd Airborne Division says it can be deployed within 18 hours of notification. It is based in the US state of North Carolina in the eastern United States.

Photo: archive