OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
11:49 AM – Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The United States Department of War is preparing to deploy thousands of Army troops to the Middle East amid the ongoing operation against Iran, Operation Epic Fury, according to sources familiar with the situation.
In the coming days, the Pentagon is expected to formally announce its plans to send between 2,000 and 3,000 troops in a brigade combat team from the Army’s 82nd Infantry Division, an elite North Carolina-based unit, the Wall Street Journal first reported on Tuesday.
Additionally, the news was confirmed by a U.S. government official who spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity.
The 82nd Airborne is a rapid-response team, meant to be able to deploy a battalion within 18 hours and a brigade within 72 hours.
Officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not illuminate when these troops would arrive in the region or where specifically they were headed, though they are currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The U.S. military directed questions to the White House, which said that any troop deployment announcements would be issued by the Pentagon.
“As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated.
President Donald Trump said last week that he was “not putting troops anywhere” when asked if he was planning a ground operation, emphasizing his reluctance to commit U.S. forces abroad— a stance that aligns with the views of most American citizens, according to recent polling data. He added that, if such a decision were ever made, he would prioritize operational security and would not publicly disclose those plans in advance.
One source told Reuters that a decision has not been made regarding sending troops into Iran itself, though they said that the U.S. would build up the capacity for potential future operations.
Last week, the Pentagon deployed nearly 5,000 Marines to the region across two units, each centered around an amphibious assault ship and supporting vessels. About 2,200 Marines traveled aboard the USS Tripoli, and about 2,500 left San Diego’s Camp Pendleton on the USS Boxer. Both groups are expected to arrive in the region in the coming weeks.
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