The United States military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, American officials confirmed Friday.
The deployment includes the USS Boxer along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit and accompanying warship.
The move comes one day after President Donald Trump denied plans to send American soldiers to the Middle East region.
Sources reported Thursday that Trump ruled out deploying American soldiers to the Middle East as the Iran war heads toward a fourth week.
“I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary,” Trump told reporters Thursday during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
themomentng gathered that officials who spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity confirmed the deployment on Friday but did not specify what role the additional troops would play in the region.
Another official said the troops were departing the West Coast of the United States about three weeks ahead of schedule.
