"The U.S. military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to help reinforce its troops fighting against Iran, officials tell Newsmax. Four officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deploying ahead of schedule from the West Coast. They are expected to sail through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East region after the Navy was ordered to heighten its posture with additional firepower.

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group includes the USS Boxer amphibious assault ship along with the USS Portland and USS Comstock amphibious transport dock ships.

There are 2,500 Marines, bringing the total to about 4,000 total service members aboard these three amphibious craft. They are equipped with F-35 fighter jets, missiles, and amphibious vehicles capable of launching from the ships to carry out a land assault.

The Boxer will join the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship already underway to the Middle East. Both can launch Rolling Airframe and Sea Sparrow missiles in addition to carrying F-35 Lightnings, AV-8 Harriers, tilt-rotor Ospreys as well as a variety of Viper, Venon, Knighthawk, and Stallion helicopters.

Six amphibious ships will add about 8,000 service members in the region, including 4,000-5,000 Marines."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/iran-ships-marines/2026/03/19/id/1250106/