The United States has dispatched the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, carrying approximately 2,500 Marines, to the Middle East as tensions escalate with Iran. The move comes amid increased air strikes and missile launches between the US, Israel, and Iran, with global markets reacting to the conflict.
USS Tripoli Deployed Amidst Rising Conflict
US officials have indicated that capturing Kharg Island was potentially on the table, though both the United States and Israel had previously approached the situation with caution. The USS Tripoli, based in Japan, has been sent to the region, according to reports on Friday from The Wall Street Journal and New York Times. More information on the USS Tripoli deployment can be found here.
Heavy blasts shook Tehran late Friday following a US vow to increase air strikes, and Iranian state media reported a new round of missiles launched toward Israel. Israeli rescue workers reported no casualties.
Qatar’s defense ministry stated its military intercepted missiles targeting the Gulf state early Saturday, with blasts heard in Doha. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported intercepting dozens of drones on Friday, and Turkey said NATO forces shot down a ballistic missile launched from Iran – the third such interception in the war.
Leadership Changes in Iran
The conflict unfolds following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, at the start of the US-Israeli campaign on February 28. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named the new supreme leader, but his whereabouts are currently unknown and he is reportedly wounded.
The US government is offering a US$10 million reward for information leading to the location of Mojtaba Khamenei.
Increased Military Action and Economic Impact
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the US military would significantly increase bombing of Iran on Friday, more than any other day in the war. The US and Israel have reportedly struck more than 15,000 targets in Iran over the past two weeks, with Israel conducting 7,600 strikes, primarily targeting Iran’s missile program.
The conflict has caused significant disruption in global markets, driving up oil prices. Brent contracts for crude oil have increased by over 42 percent, reaching above US$100 a barrel on Friday, causing concern about energy supply and inflation.
Within Iran, the Revolutionary Guards have warned of a stronger response to any anti-government protests, recalling previous protests in January where several thousand people were killed. Iranian authorities have maintained an internet blackout since the war began.
Sources speaking to AFP anonymously describe cities in ruins and a shortage of cash within Iran. A woman in Kermanshah, western Iran, reported a surge in people fleeing Tehran due to air strikes, increasing demand for food and medicine, with prices “nearly doubling.”
The UN refugee agency estimates up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the war started. Iran’s health ministry reported over 1,200 deaths as of March 8, a figure that has not been independently verified.
The US military has suffered 13 casualties since the war began, including six personnel who died in a plane crash in Iraq, which officials say was not caused by hostile fire.
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