US sends 10,000 more troops to Middle East as Iran tensions escalate

The United States is deploying a third aircraft carrier strike group near Iran, adding up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East, as the conflict enters its eighth month. The move expands military options for President Donald Trump ahead of November midterm elections. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group departed San Diego on Sunday, followed by the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group carrying over 2,000 Marines. By late November, three carriers and two amphibious groups will be positioned near Iran, joining roughly 50,000 US troops already in the region. The deployment includes F-35 fighter jets and follows earlier reinforcements of over 120 aircraft since February. The Pentagon plans no withdrawals even if a deal is reached, while Iran's seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was rejected by Washington.