Singapore, March 18 (ANI) — A U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship believed to be carrying Marines and Sailors to West Asia was tracked approaching the Malacca Strait off Singapore, U.S. broadcaster CNN reported, citing maritime tracking data.
AIS tracking information reviewed by CNN showed the 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 reported to be approaching Singapore at about 22 mph, CNN said.
CNN noted that Navy vessels often operate with automatic identification system (AIS) transponders switched off, but ships sometimes turn them on while transiting busy waterways like those around Singapore for safer navigation. The broadcaster cited the Wall Street Journal in reporting that the Tripoli is expected to bring additional Marines to West Asia.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Marines likely originate from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of roughly 2,200 personnel. Three officials familiar with the plans told the Journal that the Pentagon ordered the unit to deploy. U.S. Central Command has said roughly 50,000 U.S. troops are already in West Asia in connection with the conflict involving Iran.
When contacted by CNN, officials from the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet confirmed that the unit was being sent to West Asia but provided no additional details.
A Marine Expeditionary Unit typically includes four elements—command, ground combat, air combat and logistics combat—and is used for a range of missions, from evacuations to amphibious operations that require ship-to-shore movement. MEUs include both ground and aviation combat components, and some receive training for special operations.
USS Tripoli is based in Sasebo, Japan, and is an amphibious assault ship that carries F-35 combat jets, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor transports and landing craft for moving troops ashore. It is the lead ship of an amphibious ready group that would ordinarily be accompanied by amphibious transport docks such as USS New Orleans and USS San Diego; maritime tracking sites did not confirm the presence of those accompanying vessels alongside Tripoli, CNN reported.
Separately, Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV reported that senior Iranian figures paid tributes after the reported death of the nation’s top security official, Ali Larijani, in a strike it said was carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces. Press TV said Larijani was killed late Monday alongside his son, Morteza Larijani, and his SNSC deputy, Alireza Bayat, and that several security personnel were also reported killed.
In formal condolences cited by Press TV, 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 that the Iranian military, backed by public support, would “exact revenge for the pure blood of this dear martyr” from what he called “the criminal America and the barbaric Zionist regime,” Press TV reported.
(This report is sourced from syndicated feeds and media reports and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
