The U.S. military is preparing to send approximately 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days, according to a source familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity. This follows last week’s announcement that thousands of U.S. Marines aboard Navy ships would also deploy to the region.
While the Marines are trained for embassy support, civilian evacuations, and disaster relief, the 82nd Airborne soldiers are specialized in parachuting into hostile or contested areas to secure key locations and airfields.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region escalated as Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran, and Iran responded with missiles and drones across the Middle East. Lebanese militant attacks in northern Israel killed a woman, marking the first death inside Israel from cross-border missile and drone strikes. Israel stated it was targeting infrastructure used by the Iran-linked Hezbollah group in Beirut.
In a surprising statement, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested progress in talks with Iran, claiming the country offered an oil- and gas-related “present” and indicated a willingness for a deal to end the conflict.
Iran, however, denied any negotiations and vowed to continue fighting “until complete victory.” Pakistan, Egypt, and Gulf Arab nations are reportedly attempting to facilitate talks, but these efforts remain preliminary, while Israel continues its attacks.
Casualty updates indicate 290 U.S. troops have been wounded in the war, with 255 having returned to duty. Thirty-five remain out of action, including 10 seriously wounded, according to Capt. Tim Hawkins of U.S. Central Command.
Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat, and the total number of wounded has risen by 90 since the last report on March 16.
