An American amphibious assault ship heading for the Middle East is already off the coast of Singapore
The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli is approaching the Strait of Malacca near Singapore. This has been confirmed by Automatic Identification System data, according to CNN.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the ship may be transporting additional Marine Corps units to the Middle East. These are troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa. This unit numbers around 2,200 personnel and was deployed following a decision by the Pentagon.
According to sources, the unit has set off for the region, but the exact location of deployment and its mission have not been disclosed.
The US Central Command had previously stated that around 50,000 American troops are already in the Middle East as part of the war with Iran.
US Navy ships usually sail with their transponders switched off, but when passing through areas with heavy shipping traffic, such as the waters near Singapore, they may switch on their identification systems to ensure safe passage.
According to Marinetraffic, an unidentified US warship departed from Okinawa on 11 March, passed through the South China Sea and approached Singapore at a speed of around 22 miles per hour.
The USS Tripoli is based in Sasebo, Japan. It is nearly 850 feet long and has a displacement of around 45,000 tonnes. The ship is capable of carrying F-35 fighter jets, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and amphibious assault craft for troop landings.
The USS Tripoli is the flagship of an amphibious group, which usually includes the USS New Orleans and the USS San Diego. Tracking data does not confirm their presence alongside the Tripoli on Tuesday.
