Pentagon Reportedly Preparing to Send 3,000 Airborne Troops to Middle East
The Pentagon is making plans to send roughly 3,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to several reports. The move would add to the thousands of U.S. Marines who are already being deployed to the region.
Two defense officials confirmed that the troop movement is being prepared. However, Pentagon leaders have not approved any plan to send American forces into Iran, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal.
U.S. officials have told Axios’ Barak Ravid that the Headquarters of the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina, has been directed by the Pentagon to deploy to the Middle East together with a Brigade Combat Team consisting of several thousand troops,…
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 24, 2026
At present, the United States has about 50,000 troops stationed throughout the region.
The additional forces come as the U.S. continues military actions targeting Iran. U.S. Central Command reported that American strikes have eliminated thousands of military targets since Feb. 28. That date marked the start of Operation Epic Fury, which was announced by President Donald Trump.
Earlier coverage from The New York Times indicated that the Pentagon had been considering the possibility of deploying units from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Meanwhile, Iran carried out further drone and missile attacks across the region on Tuesday.
President Trump also said he has postponed further strikes for now while discussions with officials in Tehran continue in an effort to reach a peace agreement.
The story originally appeared in The Western Journal.
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