Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division. (Archive image, 2020)Image: AP
The USA is continuing to expand its military presence in the Middle East: thousands of paratroopers are to be relocated.
Mar 24, 2026, 9:02 p.mMar 24, 2026, 9:02 p.m
According to insiders, the US Department of Defense will deploy thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. No decision has been made to deploy the paratroopers in Iran, one of two people familiar with the process told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday. You should first increase capacity for possible future operations.
Both insiders did not provide any information about where in the region the soldiers would be stationed or when they would arrive there. The US Army referred inquiries to the presidential office in Washington, which could not immediately be reached for comment.
USA strengthens forces in the region
The move follows the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors aboard the warship USS Boxer and other ships last week. The USA is thus expanding its military presence in the region, while the government in Washington is also seeking talks with Iran.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump extended the deadline for bombing Iranian power plants on his online platform Truth Social. He justified this with the “productive” exchange with the government in Tehran. However, Iran denied that any such negotiations had taken place.
Sources used:
- With material from the Reuters news agency