US Deploys Over 3,000 Troops to Middle East Amid Iranian Tensions

United States Naval Forces Central Command announced the arrival of over 3,000 sailors and Marines to the Middle East on Sunday in response to a series of incidents where civilian ships were allegedly seized by Iranian forces.

Details: Forces from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on board the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall warships. The forces aim to ensure safe passage for vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off the southern coast of Iran. 

Key Quotes: U.S. Fifth Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins told The Hill (Center bias) that “These units add significant operational flexibility and capability as we work alongside international partners to deter destabilizing activity and deescalate regional tensions caused by Iran’s harassment and seizures of merchant vessels earlier this year.” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani objected to the deployment, telling reporters, “The US government’s military presence in the region has never created security. Their interests in this region have always compelled them to fuel instability and insecurity.”

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum covered the deployment very mildly, if at all. Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias) included quotes from Iranian sources, while both Fox News (Right bias) and The Hill quoted only U.S. voices. The Hill also determined that Iranian forces have seized tankers in the Strait of Hormuz “in an attempt to pressure the West over negotiations over its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers.”