The Pentagon is expected to deploy thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to West Asia, further expanding a significant U.S. military buildup in the region.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not specify the exact destination of the troops in West Asia or the timeline for their arrival. The soldiers are currently stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The unit is regarded as the Army’s rapid emergency response force and can be deployed at short notice. The deployment is expected to include a battalion from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, along with the division’s commander and staff.
This move follows last week’s announcement by U.S. officials that thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships are also being dispatched to the region.
