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US Troops From 82nd Airborne to Deploy 03/25 06:12
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000
troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days,
according to three people with knowledge of the plans.
The unit is considered the Army's emergency response force and can typically
be deployed on short notice. The force would include a battalion of the 1st
Brigade Combat Team as well as Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the division's
commander, and division staff, according to the people, who spoke Tuesday on
condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans or private
conversations.
It's the latest addition of American troops to the Iran war effort after
U.S. officials recently said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships
will be heading to the region.
While the Marine units are trained in missions that include supporting U.S.
embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief, the soldiers of the 82nd
Airborne, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, are trained to parachute into
hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.
When asked about the deployment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly deferred
to the Pentagon but noted that "President Trump always has all military options
at his disposal."
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are scheduled to receive a
classified briefing from Pentagon officials Wednesday on Capitol Hill where the
potential deployment is expected to be discussed, according to a U.S. official
who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The New York Times earlier reported the possible deployment of the 82nd
Airborne to the Middle East.
U.S. officials previously have said the Japan-based USS Tripoli and the 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit had been ordered to the Middle East -- shifting them
from exercises near Taiwan.
They also confirmed that the Navy has rushed to deploy a set of ships
carrying a rapid-response Marine force to the Middle East from their home post
of San Diego.
The pair of Marine Expeditionary Units will add about 5,000 Marines and
thousands of sailors to the region, where the U.S. already has about 50,000
troops.
The troops are being added just as the Trump administration says it has
begun negotiations with Iran to end the war. Pakistan offered to host
diplomatic talks, but Iran has denied that any negotiations are taking place.
While speaking Tuesday at the White House, Trump said the U.S. is "in
negotiations right now" and his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared
Kushner are involved in the talks, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio
and Vice President JD Vance.
"We have a number of people doing it," Trump said. "And the other side, I
can tell you, they'd like to make a deal."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's office said he has been discussing
the war this week with several counterparts. But Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the
speaker of Iran's parliament, denied Trump's claim of direct talks, and an
Iranian military spokesman issued a newly defiant statement vowing to fight
"until complete victory."
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