DONALD Trump’s crack “911” marines could help unlock the Strait of Hormuz – with daring island raids and anti-drone escorts on the cards.
Some 2,500 US troops are en route to the Middle East amid the spiralling Iran war as Tehran maintains its grip on the key shipping waterway.
The taskforce is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) – a rapid-response team specialising in amphibious ground and aviation combat as well as logistical support.
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They are often dubbed America’s 911 force due to their quick combat readiness.
They were some of the first boots on the ground to reach in Afghanistan in 2001.
Usually based in US outposts in Okinawa, Japan, the unit will likely be tasked with retaking control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s chokehold on the passage – a route for 20 per cent of global oil exports – has sparked a global energy crisis and sent Brent crude prices soaring.
Tehran has blitzed several cargo ships daring to make the voyage over the last few weeks following the outbreak of the war in Iran.
Fears are mounting that the mullah regime will fill the critical trade artery with mines – while also having anti-ship missiles and drones on standby.
Now that the 911 crack team are expected to arrive in the region in the coming days, a US ground operation to unclog the strait is looking increasingly probable.
Washington will be able to launch ship-to-shore raids on the islands near the Strait of Hormuz, US defence sources told The New York Times.
Iran has threatened to deploy kamikaze boats docked at the archipelago of islands near the strait.
The White House has refused to rule out deploying boots on the ground in Iran since the assassination of Ali Khamenei three weeks ago.
The 31st MEU can carry out escorts – using counter-drone capabilities including jamming devices to safely take cargo vessels through the strait-turned-battlefield.
The 2,500 soldiers en route to the Middle East are on board the USS Tripoli – which usually deploys alongside the USS New Orleans and the USS San Diego.
The USS Tripoli can adapt to become a “lightning carrier” – able to host large numbers of F-35B Lightning II fighters, MV-22 Ospreys and various helicopters.
This will prime the vessel and troops on board for quick strikes on sea and land targets.
The other two ships carry artillery and amphibious assault vehicles primed for ship-to-shore raids.
Though the 2,500-strong force is dwarfed by the 50,000 US troops already in the Middle East – their specialities make them a key player for any upcoming ground assault.
Iran has threatened to bomb any ships that travel through the Strait of Hormuz since the war started – attacking at least 18 vessels in the last three weeks.
A handful of boats have managed to make the journey – often ones with closer links to Iran including China and India.
But overall traffic in the passage is down 97 per cent, according to United Nations data.
Trump has previously claimed that the US has “destroyed 100 per cent of Iran’s military capability”.
Despite this, the threat of Iranian attacks on ships going through the strait still looms large.
The USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln are already in the region – two of Trump’s most powerful vessels.
Despite the potential for US land attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, fears have also mounted that the waterway could become a “kill box” zone for the American navy.
Deploying troops to the narrow passage could make them easy targets for Iranian suicide drones and missile strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported.
It comes as 13 US soldiers have been killed in the conflict so far amid various strikes and plane crashes.
