Updated

The United States is dramatically escalating its military presence in the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, with a US official telling Al Jazeera that a third aircraft carrier is being sent toward the region. The deployment reportedly includes around 50,000 troops, F-35 fighter jets, Marines, and the USS Roosevelt strike group, with 2,000 Marines moved into the region as part of the wider buildup. A tanker was reportedly hit in the Strait of Hormuz amid the rising tensions. The moves come amid the broader Iran war crisis, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and renewed scrutiny of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The scale of the deployment marks one of the largest US military mobilizations in the region in recent years, underscoring Washington's intent to pressure Tehran.