The Pentagon is expected to send thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to a massive U.S. military buildup even as President Donald Trump talks about a possible deal with Tehran to end the war, Reuters reports.
Reuters first reported on March 18 that Trump's administration was considering deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops, a move that would expand options to include deployment of forces inside Iranian territory.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not specify where in the Middle East the troops would go or when they would arrive in the region. The soldiers are stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
No decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself, one of the sources told Reuters, but they will build up capacity for potential future operations in the region.
One of the sources said the Pentagon was set to send between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers.
The soldiers' deployment follows Reuters' March 20 report about the U.S. decision to send thousands of Marines and sailors aboard the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit and accompanying warships to the Middle East.
Prior to the additional forces being sent to the region, there were 50,000 U.S. troops there.
But after Trump's Truth Social comment on Monday, Iran denied that any talks had been held.
Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed so far in the war and 290 have been wounded, a U.S. official said.
Sources had previously said the U.S. military was looking at options in the Iran war including securing the Strait of Hormuz.
Any use of U.S. ground troops - even for a limited mission - could pose significant political risks for Trump.
