U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,500 Marines, supported by three additional military vessels dispatched from the Okinawa base in Japan. This buildup signals a clear shift in the scale of the American military posture.
The deployment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, specialized in amphibious operations, opens the door to potential direct ground intervention scenarios. According to several military analyses, the United States could aim to neutralize key Iranian positions along the strait in order to secure maritime navigation, including the possibility of targeting Kharg Island.
Among the scenarios being discussed by some experts is the prospect of targeted operations against strategic points, including Iranian-controlled islands, with the objective of regaining the initiative at sea.
In this highly volatile context, every military move increases the risk of open confrontation. The Strait of Hormuz now stands more than ever as a geopolitical tipping point, where a decisive battle for global energy stability could unfold.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv