Iran regional confrontation

Pentagon prepares third carrier strike group and 9,000-10,000 additional troops for the Middle East

This version is a correction.

MOVEMENT
Location
United States
Actors
United States · Iran
Importance
Standard

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a third aircraft carrier strike group and additional Marine Corps ships to the Middle East, adding an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 troops, as Trump weighs resuming strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Makin Island amphibious ready group have departed San Diego, and the ships and aircraft are expected to arrive by the end of November. If the USS George Washington group joins, the US would field three carrier strike groups in the region for the first time since April.

Verification: Probable

Evidence: US to send 3rd carrier strike group to Middle East as Iran tensions rise: Report, Third aircraft carrier and thousands of troops head to Mideast as Trump weighs new Iran strikes

Reported by two newsrooms citing US officials; the Pentagon has not confirmed the deployment publicly.