Iran War Heats Up, US Special Operations Forces Arrive in the Middle East
Hundreds of United States (US) special operations forces have reportedly been sent to the Middle East. These special operations forces are being deployed amid the US, alongside its ally Israel, at war against Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency on Monday (30/3/2026), leading US media outlet the New York Times reports that hundreds of US special operations personnel, including Army Rangers and Navy SEALs, have arrived in the Middle East as Washington bolsters its military capabilities, citing two US military officials.
The commandos have not yet been assigned specific missions but could be deployed to several potential fronts, the report states, identifying the Strait of Hormuz and the Isfahan nuclear sites as potential targets. These elite units could also focus on seizing Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s main oil hub.
The total US troop presence in the region now exceeds 50,000, approximately 10,000 more than usual. This increase includes 5,000 marines and sailors recently placed in the area to provide broader combat options.
The Pentagon has also recently directed 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to be deployed within striking distance of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Although their exact location remains secret, officials indicate that these forces could support ground operations alongside the marines.
US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran have continued since 28 February, killing more than 1,340 people, including the then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global oil flows, with around 20 million barrels typically passing through the waterway each day.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s oil export centres on Kharg Island, oil wells, and power plants. The threat was issued by Trump if Iran does not soon agree to a deal to end the war.
“Major progress has been made but, for whatever reason, if a deal is not immediately reached, which it may not be, and if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will end our ‘pleasant’ visit to Iran by blowing up and totally destroying all Power Grids, Oil Wells, and Kharg Island (and perhaps all desalination plants!), which we have deliberately not ‘touched’ yet,” Trump said, according to AFP on Monday (30/3).