Around 4,500 US sailors and Marines are being deployed to the Middle East, Fox News reports, citing a US official.

Earlier, Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is sending more than 2,000 additional Marines and three warships to the region. According to the broadcaster, an operational task group of approximately 4,500 naval personnel and Marines is currently moving through the Pacific Ocean toward the Middle East.

At the same time, CBS News reports that the Pentagon has prepared detailed plans for a possible deployment of ground troops to Iran in order to provide the administration of Donald Trump with a full range of military scenarios amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Since February 28, the United States and Israel have been carrying out strikes on targets in Iran, including Tehran, with reports of destruction and civilian casualties. Iran is responding with strikes on Israeli territory as well as on US military facilities in the Middle East.