The United States is set to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East

The United States military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, three US officials told Reuters on Friday, as the US-Israeli war involving Iran entered its third week.

Two officials said no decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself, but the move is intended to strengthen capabilities for potential future operations in the region.

The deployment of the USS Boxer, along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit and accompanying warships, follows an earlier Reuters report that the administration of Donald Trump was considering sending thousands of additional troops to reinforce its Middle East operations.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he was not deploying troops “anywhere,” but added that if he were to do so, he would not disclose it publicly.