The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli is leaving Taiwan and is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East later this week. The US vessel is carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, with its complement of F-35 stealth jets and about 2,300 Marines.

Another assault ship, the USS Boxer, left Southern California last week, along with accompanying warships.

It’s expected to arrive in the region by mid-April with around 2,200 Marines from the 11th Expeditionary Unit. And 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days.

Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and former civilian Pentagon official, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Washington, DC.

Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile

#MilitaryMovements #USMarines #USNavy #USSTripoli #MiddleEastTensions #F35Jets #Pentagon #WashingtonDC #AlJazeeraEnglish