The U.S. is accelerating the deployment of thousands of San Diego-based troops to the Middle East, NBC News has learned.
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), made up of at least 2,200 Marines based at Camp Pendleton, has already deployed ahead of schedule on USS Boxer, an Amphibious Assault ship, NBC News confirmed.
The deployment of USS Boxer was captured by San Diego Web Cam on Wednesday morning.
A Navy spokesperson characterized the deployment as a routine operation in the Indo-Pacific.
“The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific to conduct routine training that ensures the continued war-fighting readiness of Navy and Marine forces operating in the area,” a statement to NBC 7 said, in part.
Israeli and U.S. officials said their three weeks of airstrikes have decimated Iran’s military, but there’s no end to the war in sight. The Pentagon has requested another $200 billion to fund the war, which would need congressional approval.
The death toll has risen to more than 1,300 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members in the region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, on Friday called for the enemies of his nation to have their “security” taken away, his latest message to the public.
Khamenei made the remarks in a statement issued on his behalf to President Masoud Pezeshkian after Israel killed Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib.
The USS Boxer held a change of command on March 13, less than a week before the deployment. Capt. Eli Owre assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer from Capt. Jason Tumlinson.
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