Amid the escalating strikes, counterattacks and rising tensions in West Asia, the United States military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region in the coming days, according to people with knowledge of the plans.
The unit is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice.
The force would include a battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team as well as Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the division’s commander, and the division staff, according to the people who spoke on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.
It’s the latest addition of American troops to the Iran war effort after U.S. officials recently said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships will be heading to the region.
Diplomats from various countries said they were working behind the scenes to ferry messages between the warring parties. But there was no let-up in the military activity, with targets in Iran, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all coming under fire.
