USS Tripoli and 2,200 Marines arrive in Middle East for Operation Epic Fury
The USS Tripoli and USS New Orleans arrived in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility on March 29, 2026, deploying 2,200 Marines to reinforce regional posture. The deployment follows a March 27 Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base that injured 24 U.S. service members. Flagged as part of 'Operation Epic Fury,' the amphibious ready group includes F-35B strike fighters and will support ongoing operations to dismantle Iranian naval and military capabilities amid the month-long regional conflict.
Date: March 29, 2026
Location: Saudi Arabia
Conflict: US-Iran Conflict
Category: naval
Severity: HIGH
Source: Gephardt Daily