Battle For Hormuz: U.S. Moves Heavy Equipment And Marines
- 19.03.2026, 14:14
The operation will give Trump additional ways to pressure Tehran.
The US military is stepping up its presence in the Strait of Hormuz region. According to expert Eli Leon, the Pentagon has sent some 2,200 marines and heavy equipment to the Persian Gulf to ensure that US President Donald Trump has the opportunity to reopen the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. Iran has effectively blocked this strategic narrow waterway by attacking commercial ships, causing fuel prices to soar and major disruptions to the global economy. This is reported by "Maariv".
A Marine unit belonging to the Rapid Reaction Force is traveling from Japan on the landing ship Tripoli and is due to arrive in the region in just over a week. U.S. officials say the force may occupy one or more islands off Iran's southern coast, using them as leverage in negotiations or as a base to prevent attacks on merchant ships.
The Marine Expeditionary Force operates autonomously from ships that serve as mobile bases. It includes infantry with armored vehicles and artillery, aviation with V-22 Osprey aircraft, helicopters and F-35B fighters, and a logistics battalion. The unit specializes in conducting raids from sea and air.
The U.S. military has already struck Iran's fortified facilities along the coast where anti-ship cruise missiles are stored, dropping more than 2 tons of anti-bunker munitions. Despite nearly three weeks of strikes by the US and Israel, Iran continues to attack allied forces. According to Caitlin Talmadge of the Brookings Institution, there is no guarantee that all Iranian capabilities have been destroyed.
The introduction of the Marines gives Trump additional options to pressure Tehran. Iran controls several small islands off the southern coast that house oil infrastructure, missile bases and boats. Most important economically is Kharg Island, about 480 kilometers from the strait, which serves as a key hub for Iranian oil exports. Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie emphasized that instead of destroying oil infrastructure, the Marines could seize the island and use it as a strategic bargaining chip.
Other potential targets include the islands of Qeshm, Kish and Hormuz, where military facilities and infrastructure are located. According to Nicole Grajewski of the Carnegie Endowment, some of these islands are well fortified, while others have been abandoned since the days of the Shah. Retired Rear Adm. John Miller noted that stationing Marines on these islands would provide a tactical advantage, allow them to intercept speedboats and missiles, and create a loophole for Trump's claim of deterring threats without putting ground troops on Iranian territory.
Eli Leon reports that the U.S. troop buildup is a sweeping move to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and pressure Tehran as the escalation continues.