Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ruet

(10,271 posts)
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 01:48 PM 1 hr ago

Pentagon to Order 3,000 82nd Airborne Soldiers to Middle East

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The Pentagon is planning to deploy a brigade combat team from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, according to two U.S. officials.

A written order to deploy the unit, made up of roughly 3,000 soldiers, is expected in the coming hours, the officials said.

The 82nd Airborne’s combat brigade serves as the Army’s emergency response force and can be deployed anywhere in the world in under 24 hours. They train to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure airfields and land. The brigade would be deployed along with the division headquarters, which is responsible for planning and coordination, the officials said.

A decision to put boots on the ground in Iran hasn’t been made, officials cautioned. But the movement of the 82nd opens the door for President Trump to try to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force, seize Iran’s strategic islands or coastline or launch a mission to capture the regime’s highly enriched uranium should he choose to do so.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-us-israel-news-updates-2026/card/pentagon-to-order-3-000-82nd-airborne-soldiers-to-middle-east-3H7VxKvxkaorsOLcRt5g

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pentagon to Order 3,000 82nd Airborne Soldiers to Middle East (Original Post) ruet 1 hr ago OP
GODDAMN TRUMP!! Bayard 1 hr ago #1
Postscript Bayard 55 min ago #2
Latest New York Times article was more cautious. mahatmakanejeeves 54 min ago #3
Capturing Kharg is a fool's mission. LudwigPastorius 53 min ago #4
Peace. twodogsbarking 5 min ago #5

Bayard

(29,571 posts)
1. GODDAMN TRUMP!!
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 02:22 PM
1 hr ago

Congress put a STOP to this illegal, incompetent charade! This is just the beginning. Many more of our soldiers will be coming home in caskets.

I tried leaving a fierce VM at Rand Paul's DC office. It runs out of time for everything I wanted to say, but I think I got my point across. I think I'll start calling every day.

Bayard

(29,571 posts)
2. Postscript
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 02:35 PM
55 min ago

I also just left VM's for my worthless Rep, Brett Guthrie. VM for Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jeffries.

Gotta start squawking, people!

mahatmakanejeeves

(69,635 posts)
3. Latest New York Times article was more cautious.
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 02:36 PM
54 min ago

Pentagon Officials Weigh Deployment of Airborne Troops for Iran War
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/23/us/politics/us-airborne-troops-iran.html

By Greg Jaffe and Eric Schmitt
Reporting from Washington

March 23, 2026 [no further time stamp]

--------

TWSJ. authors:

https://www.wsj.com/news/author/lara-seligman
https://www.wsj.com/news/author/shelby-holliday
https://www.wsj.com/news/author/michael-r-gordon

Thanks.

LudwigPastorius

(14,678 posts)
4. Capturing Kharg is a fool's mission.
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 02:38 PM
53 min ago

It can be done, if the Iranians don't set it ablaze, but once troops are there the clock starts ticking on resupply.

One good sized ballistic missile from the Iranian coast can put the Kharg airstrip out of commission, meaning that 5,000 troops would have to be resupplied with airdrops alone.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Pentagon to Order 3,000 8...