U.S. Deploys Elite 82nd Airborne Division to Middle East

As the U.S. ordered a halt to attacks on Iranian energy facilities and others until the 27th for negotiations, it has been reported that the U.S. Department of Defense will deploy around 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, the army’s elite paratrooper unit, to the Middle East. Concerns are emerging that if bilateral negotiations collapse, the U.S. might engage in ground combat as the strongest combat unit is also being deployed to the Middle East following the reinforcement of U.S. Marine Corps troops.

According to the U.S. Wall Street Journal, the Department of Defense is expected to issue a written order within hours to deploy around 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. Fox News reported that Major General Brandon Degtmyer, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, received orders to go to the Middle East along with his headquarters staff. However, it has not yet been decided whether ground forces will be deployed to Iran.

The deployment of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East began in earnest the day after U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he had held “productive talks” with Iran. There were observations that the 82nd Division would be deployed to the Iran conflict after it suddenly canceled a large-scale training plan early this month. 

The 82nd Airborne Division is an elite unit that can be deployed within 18 hours of receiving orders. During the Normandy landing in World War II, it played a key role by parachuting behind enemy lines to secure a bridgehead.

Additionally, around 2,200 U.S. troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Navy, who departed from Okinawa, Japan, mid-month, are scheduled to enter the operational area of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, by the 27th.