Thousands of civilian sailors have been stranded for more than a month in waters surrounded by a conflict zone because of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Almost 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to the International Maritime Organization, as Iran has effectively blocked the exit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The commandos have not been assigned specific roles. But President Trump has expressed concern about the now-closed Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s store of enriched uranium.
Marines training in Okinawa, Japan, last year. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been sent to the Middle East, though it is unclear what they will be used for.
With the Xi-Trump summit almost certainly delayed, and tensions rising over the war in Iran, vital issues for both the U.S. and China are also being cast into uncertainty.
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