Trump weighs sending thousands of US troops to Middle East amid Iran war The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third weekReutersPresident Donald Trump's administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against Iran, said a U.S. official and three people familiar with the matter. The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third week. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials. CASUALTIESTrump has said his goals go beyond degrading Iran's military capabilities and could include securing safe passage through the Strait and preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. "I wonder what would happen if we 'finished off' what's left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don't, be responsible for the so called 'Strait?,'" Trump posted on Truth Social.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2026 01:57 UTC