President Donald Trump’s administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in West Asia, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against Iran, said a U.S. official and three people familiar with the matter.
The deployments could help provide Mr. Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third week.
Iran-Israel war updates on March 18, 2026
Those options include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, the sources said. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran’s shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials.
Reuters granted the sources anonymity to speak about military planning.
