<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thousands of ground troops are being </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-latest-donald-trump-is-ayatollah-mojtaba-khamenei-alive-what-condition-is-he-in-middle-east-news/df7e5635-182d-4633-8c18-46b77b0d9f87" rel="" target="" title="deployed by the US military to the Middle East"><span>deployed by the US military to the Middle East</span></a><span>, according to reports.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The Wall Street Journal </span></em><span>reports the Pentagon has approved moving an additional 5000 Marines and sailors into the region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The request for more troops was made by US Central Command and approved by Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-blast-rocks-tehran-after-israel-threatened-to-target-area-where-progovernment-rally-was-being-held/431b482b-b76d-4ead-bf11-13eaf2a99dac"><strong><span>Trump says 'watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The troops of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are attached to the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship usually based in Japan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Neither the Pentagon or the White House have confirmed whether the transfer of the ship to the region is coming ahead of a ground invasion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But in order for the US to have substantial numbers of troops on the ground from an amphibious invasion, they would need a vessel like this.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-deploys-thousands-of-marines-to-middle-east-iran-war-latest-news/9414ce9f-06e4-42a6-8dd2-790aa96c7092" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit specialises in amphibious invasions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Already there are 50,000 US troops in the region, but </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has demurred on whether he will order a ground invasion of Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-iran-attacks-who-is-reza-pahlavi-shah-replacement-leader-ayatollah-khamenei-who-will-lead-iran-now/8d5b6cb3-59bf-4345-a66c-56a869ccd420" target="" title="Son of ousted king positions himself to take over in Iran"><strong><span>Son of ousted king positions himself to take over in Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Trump administration continues to tout their successes in the war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With each passing hour—we know, and we know that they know—that the military capabilities of their Evil Regime are crumbling," Hegseth said today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They are confused; we know it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our response: we will keep pressing. Keep pushing. Keep advancing. No quarter. And no mercy for our enemies."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Overnight US Central Command confirmed that all crew aboard a refuelling aircraft had died after a crash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-taco-wall-street-chickens-out-financial-market-usa-news/a92a416d-13cd-49cf-96ac-62007f7cf5a2"><strong><span>The four-letter acronym that could pull Trump out of Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The KC-135 crashed in western Iraq.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The circumstances of the incident are under investigation," a statement read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It takes the US death toll from the war to 13.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Strikes continued overnight, with Iran targeting oil infrastructure in the Gulf region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran has appeared to have struck Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Turkey overnight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile in Iran, a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-blast-rocks-tehran-after-israel-threatened-to-target-area-where-progovernment-rally-was-being-held/431b482b-b76d-4ead-bf11-13eaf2a99dac" rel="" target="" title="large explosion was reported"><span>large explosion was reported</span></a><span> during a mass gathering to mark Quds Day, an event held in support of Palestine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-latest-donald-trump-is-ayatollah-mojtaba-khamenei-alive-what-condition-is-he-in-middle-east-news/df7e5635-182d-4633-8c18-46b77b0d9f87"><strong><span>Trump weighs in on rumours Iran has put a dead man in charge</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>