Hinting that U.S boots on the ground in Iran could be just days away as US explores a possible invasion of Kharg Island, satellite images have captured the journey of USS Tripoli, the America-class amphibious assault ship, speeding through Singapore with 2000 marines.
The assault ship was seen cruising through the Malacca Strait towards the Middle East on Wednesday. The ship, carrying the Marine Expeditionary Unit, departed Okinawa in Japan on the 11th and was confirmed via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to have passed through the Malacca Strait near Singapore on March 17. It is estimated that the vessel will arrive near the Strait of Hormuz between March 23 and 27, at this navigation speed.
The warship is escorted by USS San Diego (LPD-22) and USS New Orleans (LPD-18).
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷 USS Tripoli, an LHA-7 amphibious assault ship, spotted near Singapore, heading to the Middle East with thousands of Marines onboard.
— WAR (@warsurv) March 18, 2026
U.S boots on the ground in Iran could be just days away. pic.twitter.com/9BvEcIKFGQ
The USS Tripoli, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, departed Okinawa, Japan, on the 11th and was confirmed via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to have passed through the Malacca Strait near Singapore on the 17th. At this navigation speed, it is estimated to arrive near the Strait of Hormuz between the 23rd and 27th.
It is expected that over 2,200 U.S. Marines are currently en route to the Middle East and would seize the islands scattered around the Strait of Hormuz, including Kharg Island, located approximately 450 kilometres north of the Strait of Hormuz. About 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through this island.
Occupying these islands, where Iran has build oil hubs and missile launchers, could be a bargaining chip in negotiations with Iran to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers and cargo ships while leveraging it as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Iran.
Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command, told The Wall Street Journal: “There are two options: either destroy the oil infrastructure, causing irreversible damage to Iran’s and the global economy, or occupy it and use it as a negotiating lever. The latter would not permanently damage the global economy.”
Besides Kharg Island, the US Marines could also occupy other islands in the region so as to block speedboats and secure strategic positions to intercept and shoot down missiles targeting ships passing through the strait, according to The Wall Street Journal.
