The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, including the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is heading to waters near Israel, two defense officials with knowledge of the situation say. Will give the U.S. military a force of Marines on hand with a wide array of capabilities.
The task force, deployed aboard three amphibious warships, has more than 4,000 sailors and Marines, fighter jets and an infantry battalion.
Two ships involved, the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall, were in the Gulf of Oman on Monday after leaving Kuwait recently.
The third associated ship, the USS Mesa Verde, was "disaggregated," in a separate location, when the Hamas attack occurred. Will head to eastern Med. [The Mesa Verde left its home port in Spain on Monday.]
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/16/polit...ael/index.html
US Marine rapid response force moving toward Israel as Pentagon strengthens military posture in region