The US amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday, fueling intense speculation about a potential American ground operation against Iran.
Amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) © SeaPower
The US amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday, fueling intense speculation about a potential American ground operation against Iran.
The Tripoli, normally based in Japan, leads a naval group comprising approximately 3,500 sailors and Marines, along with transport and combat aircraft - including Seahawk helicopters, Osprey troop carriers and F-35 fighter jets capable of operating from the ship's deck. The vessel is also equipped with amphibious assault gear, designed precisely for large-scale coastal and ground operations.
The deployment comes despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertion Friday that the United States could achieve its objectives against Iran without deploying ground troops.
President Trump, however, has deliberately maintained ambiguity on the question — and multiple American media outlets report he is considering deploying at least 10,000 troops to the region in the coming days.
The gap between Rubio's words and the hardware now sailing in the Middle East speaks for itself. You don't deploy amphibious assault ships, F-35s and 3,500 Marines for a diplomatic gesture.
By Ramy El Iskandarani
Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Thursday that all Saudi oil and other vital facilities would be targets for the group's missiles and drones if Riyadh escalated its involvement in the conflict.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told parliament Thursday that the "ill-fated" framework agreement signed on June 26 between Lebanon and Israel was "doomed to fail," insisting "the Zionists will not be able to impose its implementation" and that "our people will thwart its effects on the ground."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said some members of the Israeli government had tried to influence U.S. public opinion to oppose a deal by the U.S. to end the war with Iran, in a podcast episode with host Joe Rogan posted on Wednesday.
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