Despite publicly denying plans to send troops for a ground operation in Iran, President Donald Trump has mobilized additional forces capable of such actions by dispatching a second Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East. This naval group, consisting of three warships and approximately 4,000 sailors, including 2,500 Marines intended for potential land operations, departed from San Diego, California, on the same day Trump reassured that there would be no "boots on the ground" in Iran. However, he also indicated that he would not reveal his complete strategy to the press.

The deployment of the USS Boxer, a landing ship, was first reported by American media outlet Newsmax and later confirmed by various channels through anonymous sources. While the U.S. Navy has refrained from commenting on the deployment, this move follows the previous relocation last week of a similar force from Japan, led by the USS Tripoli, which is already on its way to the region. The journey of the Boxer group is estimated to take between 10 to 15 days, during which tensions in the region may escalate further.

With this latest mobilization, the total number of U.S. personnel in the area is now approximately 5,000, heightening concerns about a potential military conflict in Iran. This development comes at a time when diplomatic relations in the region are fraught, and any military engagement could have significant repercussions for U.S. foreign policy and international relations.