President Trump said Thursday that he’s not deploying additional troops to the Mideast due to the Iran war.
“No. I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Mr. Trump’s comments come amid media reports that the administration is considering deploying thousands of troops to reinforce its military operations in Iran.
Deploying additional troops would give Mr. Trump more options as the Iran war rages for a third week. The troops could be used to secure safe passage for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz while stationed at Iran’s shoreline or at Kharg Island, Iran’s oil hub.
The Pentagon this week moved the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from the South China Sea to the Middle East, according to a CNN report. That’s a rerouting of troops that have been deployed rather than deploying new units.
The 31st is a rapid-response unit of 2,200 Marines.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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