Brief
Trump sends 9,000 troops and third carrier to Middle East amid Iran threat
The deployment arrives as Trump hints at retaliation against Iran following the FlyDubai co‑pilot incident.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The United States is moving roughly 9,000 additional troops to the Middle East, a U.S. official told Independent on Thursday, alongside a third aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
The force will travel aboard a group of ships that already carries more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines. The convoy includes the carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the cruiser USS Chosin, and the amphibious readiness group centred on the USS Makin Island with the landing ships USS John P. Murtha and USS Anchorage. If all elements arrive as planned, three U.S. carriers could be operating in the region by the end of October, raising the total naval presence to over 20,000 sailors and Marines and hundreds of aircraft.
President Donald Trump used a White House press briefing to suggest a link between Iran and the co‑pilot of the FlyDubai flight that attempted to crash an Israel‑bound plane on Wednesday. "I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is ‘yes,’ but we’re working on it right now," Trump said, adding that the United States would retaliate if the connection is confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on Fox News, said investigators believe the suspect underwent "Islamist, radical indoctrination," though he offered no further details. Trump responded, "Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry. You just ask them. They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard."
The troop surge comes as Trump faces looming U.S. midterm elections and a war that has entered its eighth month. Earlier this week, Felo News reported on the same deployment, noting the strategic timing amid growing political pressure at home.
Key facts
- About 9,000 additional U.S. troops are being sent to the Middle East. (independent.co.uk)
- The deployment includes a third aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt. (independent.co.uk)
- President Trump linked Iran to the FlyDubai co‑pilot attack and warned of retaliation. (independent.co.uk)
- The ship group carries over 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, potentially raising naval presence to over 20,000 personnel. (independent.co.uk)
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said investigators believe the suspect underwent Islamist radical indoctrination. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Trump sending 9,000 more troops to Middle East after threatening new strikes on Iran”
