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More than 50,000 U.S. troops are now stationed in the Middle East as the conflict with Iran enters its second month, according to officials and reports.
The deployment represents an increase of about 10,000 personnel above typical levels in the region. Reinforcements include roughly 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 2,500 Navy sailors, The New York Times reported.
The Pentagon has also sent about 2,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, expanding the U.S. military presence as operations continue.
Officials said President Donald Trump is weighing options for further military action, including potential efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. The strait has been largely closed since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February, contributing to disruptions in global energy markets.
A U.S. military official told The New York Times that Army paratroopers are positioned within range of Iran and could be used in operations targeting strategic locations such as Kharg Island, the country’s primary oil export hub.
The troops could also support broader ground operations alongside Marine forces if ordered, the official said.
The current troop total does not include approximately 4,500 personnel who had been deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. The carrier left the region earlier this week and traveled to Crete before continuing on to Croatia.
Military analysts said the current force level would be relatively small for a large-scale ground invasion. They noted that Israel deployed about 300,000 troops during its 2023 Gaza operation and that the United States used roughly 250,000 ground troops in the initial phase of the Iraq War.
Experts said a force of 50,000 would likely be insufficient to occupy a country the size of Iran, which has a population of about 93 million.
U.S. officials have not announced any decision to launch a major ground offensive, and troop movements are being described as part of broader contingency planning as the conflict continues.