U.S. President Joe Biden is deploying more warships and an expeditionary force of U.S. Marines to the Middle East ahead of a potential showdown with Iran, with part of the BATAAN Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) including the USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall joining the mission.
The Bataan, described by the U.S. Navy as its “finest amphibious assault ship,” is designed to “enable the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team to accomplish a seamless transition from the sea to a land battle.” The Carter Hall, similarly, is designed to “transport Marine personnel, landing craft, vehicles, and cargo [and] land them ashore using landing craft and helicopters in support of military and humanitarian assistance operations”.
They join the USS Thomas Hudner guided missile destroyer and a force of F-35 and F15 warplanes, the deployment of which was announced a few days prior.
The Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) say the force’s purpose is to deter Iranian interceptions of tankers and other ships in and around their territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
“These additional forces provide unique capabilities [to] further safeguard the free flow of international commerce and uphold the rules-based international order, and deter Iranian destabilizing activities in the region,” said Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla.