Up to 5,000 US marines and sailors dispatched to Middle East: Report

Up to 5,000 US marines and sailors dispatched to Middle East: Report Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 18:32 The move suggests the US is not seeking to wind down its war on Iran, despite boasting of success US President Donald Trump, left, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrive in Dover, Delaware, to receive the remains of American soldiers killed in Kuwait, on 7 March 2026 (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Off A dispatch of up to 5,000 more American marines and sailors is headed to the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing unnamed US officials. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is said to have approved a request from US Central Command (Centcom), the Pentagon's Middle East hub, for an amphibious ready group and an attached Marine expeditionary unit , which includes three warships and some 2,500 US Marines. The unit, per its dedicated website, contains F-35B Lightning II jets and also MV-22B Ospreys.