Manama/Abu Dhabi: The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in West Asia, the US Central Command said on Saturday, as speculation grows over the possible deployment of US ground troops in or near Iran.
Based normally in Japan, the ship entered the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility on Friday and docked in the region the next day, CENTCOM said in a post on X.
In the statement, CENTCOM described the Tripoli as the flagship for a force of “about 3,500” Marines and sailors. “The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group/31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is the flagship for a contingent of about 3,500 Marines and sailors,” the post read. The group also includes “transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assa
ult and tactical assets,” it added.
Photographs shared by CENTCOM show several MH‑60 Seahawk helicopters parked on the flight deck, along with MV‑22 Osprey tilt‑rotor aircraft typically used for personnel transport. Another image features an F‑35B stealth fighter jet, underscoring the ship’s ability to project both air and amphibious power far from shore.
The arrival of the Tripoli‑led contingent comes amid tightening tensions over Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington “could achieve its objectives in Iran without deploying ground forces,” a comment widely interpreted as an attempt to project restraint while maintaining military pressure. Yet, as several US media outlets have reported, President Donald Trump has remained vague on the issue for weeks, with internal discussions reportedly weighing the possible deployment of at least 10,000 troops to the West Asia theatre.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s top commanders have warned that any US boots entering Iranian territory would face overwhelming resistance, with one state‑linked outlet declaring that American soldiers “would leave only in a coffin.”