United States Redirects Military Forces from Indo-Pacific to Middle East
Tokyo — The United States military has begun relocating at least one amphibious assault vessel and more than 2,000 Marines from Japan to the Middle East as the US-Israel conflict with Iran continues, according to American media reports on Friday.
According to Fox News, the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship based in Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture in south-western Japan, could arrive within one to two weeks. Tripoli and two other naval vessels form the Marine Amphibious Ready Group.
As the conflict enters its third week and US President Donald Trump has pledged to intensify military action against Iran, the military is deploying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, to the Middle East region, according to American media outlets.
This redeployment reduces the number of US forces in the Indo-Pacific region and occurs as Iran escalates its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the transit route for 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil.
The Washington Post and South Korean media reported earlier this week that the US military would relocate some missile defence systems intended to counter North Korea from South Korea to the Middle East.
The newspaper also stated that the USS Tripoli, equipped with F-35 fighter jets, and another naval vessel from the group have been ordered to be sent to the Middle East.
The redeployment of US military assets from the Indo-Pacific to the Persian Gulf has raised national security concerns among American allies in the region.
On Friday, Trump told reporters, “This deployment will continue as long as necessary,” when asked how long he believed the conflict with Iran would last.
Subsequently, Trump stated on social media that US forces have “completely destroyed” every military target on Kharg Island in Iran, where the majority of Iran’s crude oil exports are handled.
“I have chosen NOT to destroy the oil infrastructure on that island. However, if Iran, or anyone else, does anything to disrupt the free and safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, I will promptly reconsider this decision,” he wrote.
Amid surging oil prices, the Trump administration has also proposed using US Navy vessels to escort ships transiting through the waterway to protect them from potential attacks.
Speaking to the press before departing for Florida, Trump stated that the ship escort measure would likely be implemented soon.