The United States reports relocating the "Tripoli" amphibious ready group from Asia to the Middle East

[Text/Observer Network 熊超然] “As the U.S. strikes against Iran enter its third week, at least 2,000 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU, based in Okinawa) have been deployed to the Middle East.”

On March 13, local time, French news outlet Naval News reported that these over 2,000 Marines and their equipment are currently deployed on two U.S. Navy ships—the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) of the America class and the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18) of the San Antonio class.

Before receiving orders to head to the Middle East, the USS Tripoli, along with its Marine crew and escort ships, was participating in exercises in the Pacific near the Philippines. They then returned to their permanent base in Japan before departing again.

The news about the USS Tripoli amphibious task force being ordered to the Middle East was first disclosed earlier that day by The Wall Street Journal, citing three anonymous Pentagon officials. These officials said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved the request from U.S. Central Command to deploy an amphibious task force and its associated Marine expeditionary unit.

Naval News pointed out that this deployment is the largest military asset pulled from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility to date. Previously, the USS Tripoli, as part of the U.S. forces stationed in Japan, was assigned to the Seventh Fleet’s operational area.

It is noteworthy that after the escalation of the Middle East conflict, assets previously drawn from the Indo-Pacific Command have mainly focused on air defense. Reports indicate that components of the THAAD missile defense system and Patriot missile systems (mainly transporters and missiles) have been moved from South Korea to the Middle East.

On February 10, 2026, during a maritime resupply operation near the waters off the Philippines, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) was refueling from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli.

Currently, the USS Tripoli amphibious task force includes the Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), the Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115), and the amphibious ships USS Tripoli and USS New Orleans.

The main mission of the amphibious task force is to conduct Marine landings and provide support in coastal and nearshore environments. The Marine landing operations will be supported by over 30 aircraft from the task force’s aviation squadron and various amphibious landing craft.

Aircraft supporting the Marine operations include F-35 Lightning II fighters, MV-22B Ospreys, AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, UH-1Y Venom attack/utility helicopters, MH-60S Seahawk utility/search-and-rescue helicopters, and CH-53E Super Stallion and CH-53K King Stallion transport helicopters.

On social media platform X, military enthusiasts observed satellite images showing that the USS Tripoli had left Okinawa on March 11. From the captured images of its “large and slender wake profile,” the ship appears to be heading at full speed toward the Middle East.

Analysts suggest that, as an amphibious assault ship optimized for air operations, the USS Tripoli will directly deliver U.S. Marine air power into the Middle East theater.

Satellite images confirm that the USS Tripoli is heading at full speed toward the Middle East.

Naval News also noted that the specific objectives of this deployment by the U.S. Marine Corps, its ships, and equipment remain unclear. However, given the formidable capability of this amphibious task force in force projection, its deployment likely indicates increased U.S. involvement in the region, possibly even aiming to seize or control parts of Iranian territory.

Analysts speculate that the potential targets of the USS Tripoli amphibious task force could include deploying Marines on Iranian peripheral islands along the strait as forward bases to help intercept any mine-laying or blockade actions by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has already blockaded this vital shipping route, causing a sharp rise in global oil prices and triggering economic instability worldwide.

While these analyses are speculative, Naval News emphasizes that the Pentagon has not yet confirmed the true purpose behind this deployment of the USS Tripoli amphibious task force, and no official statements have been made.

Last week, USNI News reported that the U.S. plans to dispatch another aircraft carrier to the Middle East from the U.S. mainland. The specific timing and duration of this deployment have not been announced.

The U.S. Navy announced that the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and its escort ships and carrier air wing completed integrated training exercises on March 5. This exercise is a mandatory training for all carrier strike groups before they are deployed on national-level missions.

Previously, two other U.S. aircraft carriers—the USS Lincoln and USS Ford—had already been deployed to the Middle East to participate in military actions against Iran.

This article is an exclusive report by Observer Network and may not be reproduced without permission.