Singapore City [Singapore], March 18 (ANI): A US Navy warship believed to be transporting Marines and Sailors to West Asia was tracked approaching the Malacca Strait off Singapore, CNN reported, citing maritime tracking data.
AIS tracking data seen by CNN showed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli nearing Singapore at the southwestern edge of the South China Sea on Tuesday morning. marinetraffic.com displayed a track for an “unspecified US warship” that departed Okinawa on March 11, transited the South China Sea and was nearing Singapore at about 22 mph, according to CNN.
The US broadcaster noted that while Navy vessels often operate with AIS transponders off, ships sometimes reveal their positions when transiting busy waters like those around Singapore for safer operations.
Citing the Wall Street Journal, CNN reported the Tripoli is expected to bring additional Marines to West Asia. Those Marines reportedly come from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of roughly 2,200 personnel, after the Pentagon ordered the unit to deploy, three officials familiar with the plans told the Journal.
US Central Command has said roughly 50,000 US troops are already in West Asia related to the conflict with Iran. When CNN sought comment, officials from the US Navy’s 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet confirmed the unit was being sent to West Asia but provided no further details.
A Marine Expeditionary Unit comprises four elements—command, ground combat, air combat and logistics combat. MEUs have been used for evacuations and amphibious operations requiring ship-to-shore movements, including raids and assaults, and include ground and aviation combat components; some units receive training for special operations.
Based in Sasebo, Japan, USS Tripoli is a small aircraft carrier that carries F-35 stealth fighters, MV-22 Osprey transports and landing craft for moving troops ashore. It is the lead ship of an amphibious ready group that would normally include amphibious transport docks such as USS New Orleans and USS San Diego; CNN said maritime tracking sites did not confirm the presence of those smaller ships alongside Tripoli.
Separately, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported senior Iranian figures paid high-level tributes following the death of the nation’s top security official, Ali Larijani, who was killed during a military strike carried out by Israeli and US forces. Press TV said Larijani was killed late on Monday alongside his son, Morteza Larijani, and his SNSC deputy, Alireza Bayat; several security personnel were also reported killed.
In a formal condolence message, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Larijani as a “virtuous, precious, and dear brother.” Judiciary chief Mohseni Ejei praised Larijani’s leadership and said he “received from God Almighty the reward for his long years of struggle” and “drank the sweet nectar of martyrdom.” Ejei vowed the Iranian military, backed by public support, would “exact revenge for the pure blood of this dear martyr” from those he called “the criminal America and the barbaric Zionist regime,” Press TV reported.
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