US Central Command Deploys Second Marine Expeditionary Unit in Middle East

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the deployment of a second Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), typically comprising over 2,000 Marines, currently operating in the Middle East.

This deployment coincides with a halt in peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, occurring shortly before the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

A CENTCOM statement posted on the social media platform X reported that the "ready amphibious ready group (ARG) 'Boxer' and its accompanying 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are presently operating in the Middle East as part of a scheduled deployment."

The group includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, the amphibious transport dock USS Portland—which CENTCOM noted has recently arrived in the region—and the landing ship USS Comstock, which has been active in the area since May.

This amphibious group joins the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship, its accompanying vessels, and the Marine forces aboard, which have been stationed in the region since late March.