Thousands of US Army Paratroopers Arrive in Middle East As Buildup Intensifies

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) – Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, as President Donald Trump weighs his next steps in the war against Iran.

Reuters first reported on March 18 that Trump’s administration was considering deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East, a move that would expand options to include the deployment of forces ?inside Iranian territory.

The paratroopers, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, add