The number of US troops in the Middle East has exceeded 50,000

Following the arrival of 2,500 marines and a further 2,500 sailors, the number of US troops in the Middle East has exceeded 50,000, reports the NYT.

The marines belong to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Their specific tasks have not yet been disclosed. According to US officials, President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of a broader attack, including the option of seizing an island or other territory as part of efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supplies usually pass, is largely blocked due to attacks by Iranian forces in response to the US and Israeli war against Iran.

There are usually around 40,000 US troops in the region, stationed at bases and on ships in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Following the escalation of the conflict with Iran, this number has risen to over 50,000.

This figure does not include the 4,500 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford. The ship left the region on 23 March following a series of incidents, including a fire on board, and headed for Crete. It subsequently arrived in Croatia. The ship’s further route has not been specified.

Last week, the Pentagon also deployed around 2,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region to bolster military capabilities.

The location of the paratroopers has not been disclosed. They will remain within striking distance of Iran. Among the possible scenarios is the capture of Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. They may also be deployed in other ground operations alongside the marines.

At the same time, military experts note that even more than 50,000 troops, a significant proportion of whom are at sea, are insufficient for a large-scale ground operation.