Allegra Mendelson
Taiwan: The US has ordered that a “911 force” of 2500 marines be redeployed from Japan to the Middle East, signalling the possibility of American boots on the ground.
The taskforce is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force trained for amphibious ground and aviation combat, as well as logistical support.
Usually based on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, the unit can operate entirely from a floating base, allowing it to remain offshore while staying close to the conflict.
MEUs, known colloquially as America’s 911 force because of their high levels of combat readiness, were among the first conventional ground forces deployed by Washington in conflicts such as the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The US has not disclosed the nature of its mission, but the elite force will probably be tasked with regaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, the single entry point to the Gulf.
The vital artery, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has been under attack by Iran since the war began on February 28, bringing shipping to a standstill and triggering global economic upheaval.
The Pentagon is now wrestling with the problem of how to prevent Tehran’s military from mining the strait. It is holding off sending warships into the narrow waterway, fearful of Iranian drones and anti-ship missiles.
But the arrival of the MEU to the strait could signal a new phase of the war opening up: US ground operations.
The deployment of the 31st MEU should allow the US to launch raids on the islands near the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has threatened to deploy fast boats carrying mines, US defence officials told The New York Times.
Washington has said it is keeping all options on the table, including ground operations, which could also see US forces seize the territory around the strait – a risky and difficult mission.
Each MEU consists of a ground combat unit with infantry, armoured vehicles and artillery, an aviation group with helicopters and fighter jets such as the F-35B, along with logistics and command teams.
The 31st MEU also has experience in counter-drone activity, with its ships and escort tankers equipped with jamming vehicles.
The unit was operating in the Philippine Sea earlier this week and is not expected to reach the Strait of Hormuz for 10 to 15 days, according to estimates by Naval News.
However, the parameters of the conflict could change before the marine force arrives.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to its “enemies”, which include the US and Israel, threatening to bomb any ship that attempts to transit without permission.
Since the war broke out, Tehran has attacked at least 18 vessels operating around the Gulf and the strait.
While a handful of ships from countries with closer ties to Iran, such as China and India, have been permitted to pass, the traffic overall is down 97 per cent, according to UN data.
On Saturday, Donald Trump said that the US had “destroyed 100 per cent of Iran’s military capability”.
But he conceded that it would still be easy for Tehran to send drones equipped with bombs and short-range missiles over the Strait of Hormuz.
The 2500 marines headed to the Middle East will travel on board the USS Tripoli, which is typically deployed alongside two amphibious transport dock ships, the USS New Orleans and the USS San Diego.
The USS Tripoli can be adapted to become a “Lightning Carrier”, specialised in transporting large numbers of F-35B Lightning II fighters alongside MV-22 Ospreys and various helicopters for strikes at sea and inland.
The other vessels carry artillery and amphibious assault vehicles for ship-to-shore landings.
Tripoli’s Amphibious Ready Group will join the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carriers – two of the US’s most powerful ships – which were already deployed to the region.
While the redeployment of the 31st MEU indicates a significant need in the Middle East, it has left the Pacific theatre, which includes Taiwan and South Korea, without a quick response force.
The US had previously moved missiles and launchers from its anti-ballistic missile system, THAAD, from South Korea to the Middle East, prompting concern that this could leave the region vulnerable to aggression from both China and North Korea.
The Telegraph, London
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