Washington DC, March 14 -- The United States is sending an amphibious Ready Group (ARG) led by the USS Tripoli and around 2,500 Marines to West Asia as tensions rise near the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks linked to Iran, Fox News, citing a defence official, said.

According to the report, the Pentagon is deploying the USS Tripoli ARG, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), part of its own strike group.

The ship is currently based in Japan and is expected to reach the US Central Command's (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), West Asia, within one to two weeks.

The Marines will join a large American military presence already in the region. According to New York Times, more than 50,000 US troops are currently...