The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has entered the “area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command,” CENTCOM said. Its precise location has not been disclosed, though it had previously been reported that the vessel was heading to the Middle East.
The command said the ship is serving as the flagship of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
“The group includes about 3,500 sailors and Marines, as well as transport and strike fighter aircraft, landing craft, and other equipment,” CENTCOM said. Before the redeployment, the ship had been based in Japan.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Washington is considering using Marines to establish control over one or more islands off Iran’s southern coast—to use them as leverage to force the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.