Well as we have the Marines there now does that mean they HAVE to get there in landing craft? Perhaps a bit of confusion over a having a capability and having to use it? A high-readiness parachute task force, perhaps the only high-readiness 'formation' we have available, can walk off the back of a plane as well.
Although I am reminded of the stories during TELIC about 16 AAB planning (enthusiastically) for contingency air drops into a disintegrating Iraq - while the QMs were getting as many Bedfords serviceable as possible.