US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested ‘winding down’ US military operations in the Middle East as he listed the ‘5 objectives’ that Washington is nearing to achieve in its war in the Middle East, ruling out the possibility of a ceasefire. The announcement comes as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claimed victory over the US and Israel.In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States was close to achieving its military objectives while ruling out a ceasefire.“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he said.

What are the 5 objectives listed by Trump?

Trump further listed five main objectives that Washington aims to achieve in its war with Iran.

He also indicated that responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should shift to other nations using it, with the US providing assistance.

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Speaking at the White House alongside Senator Marco Rubio, Trump rejected calls for a ceasefire. “I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” he said. Trump further said, “I think we have won.”The remarks came as the United States deployed additional Marines to the Middle East, signalling a potential expansion of military options, though Washington maintained there are no current plans to send ground troops into Iran.

‘Enemy has been defeated’: Khamenei claims victory in ongoing war

Responding to the ongoing conflict, Mojtaba Khamenei claimed victory in a message marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz.“At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots, the enemy has been defeated,” he said.Khamenei described US and Israeli attacks as an illusion aimed at overthrowing Iran’s government and accused them of plotting attacks in Turkey and Oman to sow divisions among regional nations. “We share with neighboring countries the creed, the interests, and the confrontation against the forces of global arrogance,” he said, commending Iranians for creating strongholds across cities, neighbourhoods, and mosques.The Supreme Leader has yet to appear publicly since being named successor to his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike at the start of the war. Earlier on Friday, Iran released a video showing Mojtaba Khamenei teaching religious studies to students.Since the conflict began, more than 1,300 people have died in Iran. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, while Iranian missile attacks in Israel have claimed at least 15 lives. The United States has reported at least 13 military deaths in the ongoing hostilities.

Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, but neither struck the US-UK military base, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials.According to the report, one missile broke apart during flight, while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the second. It remains uncertain whether the interceptor successfully destroyed its target. The timing of the launch was not disclosed.

The White House, the British embassy in Washington, and the Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.Diego Garcia is a strategically located atoll in the central Indian Ocean that hosts a key US-UK military facility. Part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the base is operated primarily by the United States and serves as a critical hub for air and naval operations across a vast region spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.The base has played a central role in US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing a launch point for long-range bombers and supporting naval deployments, including submarines and surveillance missions. Its remote location makes it a secure site for pre-positioning military supplies, fuel and equipment, enabling rapid response during regional crises.Diego Garcia is also seen as vital to Washington’s strategic posture in the Indian Ocean, allowing it to monitor and counter activities by rivals such as Iran and China. Its isolation and heavy fortification make it one of the most secure overseas military installations available to the US.

Diego Garcia

War escalates unhindered

The development comes when the United States is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to West Asia, three US officials said on Friday, as Washington steps up its military presence in the region. While no decision has been taken to send troops into Iran, the reinforcements are aimed at strengthening operational capacity for potential future action, the officials said on condition of anonymity.One official said the USS Boxer, along with two other amphibious assault ships and about 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is headed to West Asia from its home port of San Diego. Two other US officials confirmed the deployment but did not disclose the ships’ destination. The same official noted that the troops are leaving the US nearly three weeks ahead of schedule. The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment.

A contested legacy

The latest deployment will add to the roughly 50,000 US troops already stationed in West Asia and is expected to bring two Marine Expeditionary Units into the region. Typically comprising around 2,500 Marines each, these units can conduct a range of operations, including airstrikes from onboard aircraft or ground deployments. Earlier reports had indicated that the US military was preparing for possible next steps in the ongoing conflict.Separately, US forces are intensifying efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. US warplanes and attack helicopters have increased strikes against Iranian drones and naval vessels as part of a broader campaign to keep the sea lanes open, officials said.

Gen Dan Caine said Thursday that low-flying Air Force A-10 Warthog aircraft were “hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft” operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the contested waters. He added that some regional allies, which he did not identify, were using Apache helicopter gunships to “handle one-way attack drones,” a tactic increasingly used by Iran across the Persian Gulf.The US is also weighing plans to occupy Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources.

Iran’s attempted long-range strike on the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia has showcased a sharp escalation in both capability and intent, pushing the geography of the ongoing conflict far beyond the Middle East, as per a report by the Washington Post. The base, located roughly 4,000 kilometres from Iran’s coastline, was targeted with two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, according to US officials, in what appears to be one of Tehran’s longest-range strike attempts to date.Iran continues to strike Gulf nations — Follow live updatesNeither missile hit its target. One reportedly failed mid-flight, while the second was engaged by a US Navy destroyer using an SM-3 interceptor, though it remains unclear whether the interception was successful. Despite the lack of impact, the attempt itself has triggered alarm in Washington and allied capitals, as it suggests Iran may now possess or is willing to demonstrate strike capabilities far beyond its previously declared limits.Also read: Iran fires 2 ballistic missiles towards US, UK military bases in Diego GarciaThe strike came amid intensifying hostilities between Iran and a US-Israel alliance, even as Donald Trump indicated that Washington was “very close” to achieving its military objectives and could consider winding down operations. Yet the attack on Diego Garcia, a remote but critical military hub, suggests Tehran is widening both the scope and signalling of its retaliation.

A strike across 4,000 kilometres

The attempted strike stands out primarily for its distance. Diego Garcia lies deep in the Indian Ocean, more than 3,800 kilometres from Iran, well beyond the 2,000-kilometre range Tehran has long claimed as the upper limit of its missile programme.US officials believe the missiles used were likely from the Khorramshahr-4 class, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that analysts had previously assessed to have a potential range exceeding 4,000 kilometres, though publicly demonstrated capabilities had remained lower. If confirmed, the strike would mark the first operational indication that Iran can hit targets at such distances.

The implications extend far beyond this single incident. A 4,000-kilometre strike radius from Iran would place large parts of Europe including cities such as Paris and London within theoretical reach. For NATO countries that have largely viewed the conflict as regionally contained, the attempted strike alters that calculation significantly.The Khorramshahr-4 itself is a liquid-fuelled missile capable of carrying a warhead exceeding one tonne, with the option of deploying cluster munitions. Its design, derived in part from earlier North Korean and Soviet systems, combines relatively simple architecture with high payload capacity. The missile is also believed to feature manoeuvrable re-entry capabilities, making interception more difficult.

Why Diego Garcia matters

The choice of target is as significant as the distance. Diego Garcia is one of the most strategically important military installations operated jointly by the United States and the United Kingdom. Situated in the Chagos Archipelago, the base serves as a critical logistics and operations hub for long-range missions.It has historically supported US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as more recent operations in the Middle East. Its airfield is capable of hosting heavy bombers, surveillance aircraft, and pre-positioned military equipment, allowing rapid deployment across Asia, Africa and the Gulf.The base’s isolation far from conventional conflict zones has long been considered one of its key advantages. Iran’s decision to target it challenges that assumption, demonstrating a willingness to strike even remote strategic assets.The attack also comes amid renewed scrutiny over the future of the base. The United Kingdom recently agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining long-term access to Diego Garcia under a lease arrangement, a move that has drawn political criticism in Washington.

Missile defence and widening conflict

The attempted interception reportedly using the SM-3 system highlights the growing importance of missile defence in the conflict. The SM-3, deployed on US Navy warships, uses a “hit-to-kill” approach relying on kinetic force rather than explosives to destroy incoming missiles. Its effectiveness against intermediate-range threats is well established, but the uncertainty around this interception underscores the challenges posed by advanced ballistic systems.At the same time, the strike on Diego Garcia fits into a broader pattern of Iranian escalation. Tehran has stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including reported drone strikes on Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, while issuing warnings to countries hosting US forces.Iranian officials have also expanded their rhetoric, warning that targets linked to their adversaries could extend beyond traditional battlefields. These signals point to a strategy that combines conventional missile strikes with the threat of asymmetric attacks.Meanwhile, the United States has reinforced its regional posture, deploying additional warships and thousands of Marines. Despite talk of winding down operations, Washington’s military build-up suggests preparations for a prolonged confrontation.

The narrative of Sanju Samson’s career has often been one of ‘what ifs’ and ‘could have beens.’ However, as the dust settles on India’s triumphant 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, that narrative has shifted toward a definitive ‘finally.’ Among those celebrating loudest is Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and a long-time mentor figure to the Kerala wicketkeeper, who recently reflected on a prophecy made over a decade ago.

Shashi Tharoor recalls spotting 14-year-old Sanju Samson as Gautam Gambhir’s prophecy gains attention

Tharoor’s connection with Samson dates back to when the cricketer was just a 14-year-old prodigy. Even then, the talent was undeniable. Tharoor recalled telling the teenager that he was destined to be the next MS Dhoni. It was a heavy mantle to place on young shoulders, but it spoke to the sheer calibre of Samson’s natural ability.

However, it was a conversation with current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir that provided the necessary perspective. As Tharoor reminisced about his early prediction, Gambhir known for his blunt and individualistic approach offered a correction that has now become legendary. Gambhir insisted that Samson didn’t need to be the next anyone; he was destined to be the first and only ‘Sanju Samson’.

“I’ve been a sort of uncle to him, I think, in some ways, because I met him when he was 14. I gave him a lot of encouragement. I may not be the most qualified cricket fan to do so, but I told him when he was 14 that he was going to be the next MS Dhoni. And when I recall those words some years later, my friend Gautam Gambir said he doesn’t have to be the next anybody, he’s going to be the first one and only Sanju Samson, and that’s how it has turned out to be,” Tharoor stated to ANI.

This prophecy reached its zenith during the 2026 T20 World Cup. Coming into the side during the high-pressure knockout stages, Samson displayed a level of maturity that had previously eluded him on the international stage. With 321 runs across five matches, including three consecutive half-centuries, he wasn’t just a participant; he was the engine room of the Indian batting lineup. Being named Player of the Tournament wasn’t just an accolade, it was the validation of Gambhir’s belief that Samson’s identity was unique and peerless.

Also READ: Former batter picks the ideal top-order of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2026

Samson’s new chapter: The CSK connection and ODI aspirations

While the T20 glory is still fresh, the cricketing world is already buzzing about Samson’s next move. On March 19, 2026, Samson arrived at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) training camp, marking the first time he will share an IPL dressing room with Dhoni. The sight of the two wicketkeepers in deep conversation sent social media into a frenzy, symbolizing a passing of the torch moment, even as Samson continues to carve his own path.

Tharoor, ever the advocate for his ‘nephew,’ believes this momentum should carry Samson back into the 50-over format. He pointed out the irony of Samson’s ODI hiatus, noting that his last appearance in the format featured a brilliant century before he was sidelined.

” This was somebody who seemed relentlessly focused, calm and composed, on top of his game. Nothing was allowed to disturb him. There was poetry in motion, I tell you, it was a joy watching him bat. And from here I want to see him getting back into the ODI squad as well. After all, don’t forget that his last innings in ODI cricket was a century, and they dropped him after that. So, let’s give him a chance again,,” Tharoor added regarding Samson’s recent form, urging selectors to show the same faith in the ODI setup that reaped such massive rewards in the T20 World Cup.

As the IPL 2026 season kicks off, Samson is no longer chasing shadows or comparisons. Under the guidance of Gambhir in the national colours and now alongside Dhoni in the yellow of CSK, the man from Kerala has finally arrived, not as a successor, but as a singular force in world cricket.

Also READ: MS Dhoni omitted! Irfan Pathan picks his ideal Chennai Super Kings lineup for IPL 2026

In a bid to cool rising oil prices amid the ongoing Middle East crisis the Trump administration has begun releasing crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), lending 45.2 million barrels to energy companies in its first round. The volume released so far represents just over half of the 86 million barrels the administration had earlier said it would make available in the initial phase. The broader plan is to lend a total of 172 million barrels, with deliveries scheduled through this year and into the next, according to Reuters.The Energy Department said that firms awarded these early supplies include BP Products North America, Gunvor USA, Marathon Petroleum and Shell Trading. Other companies that secured contracts by Friday are Energy Transfer Crude Marketing, Mercuria Energy America, Trafigura Trading and Vitol.This release forms part of a wider coordinated effort involving 32 countries under the International Energy Agency, which together plan to inject 400 million barrels of oil into the market. Prices have climbed to their highest levels in four years following the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, marking the steepest surge since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The arrangement operates as a loan rather than a sale, with companies required to return the crude along with additional barrels as a premium. The Energy Department said the system is intended to steady markets “at no cost to American taxpayers.”Companies must repay between 18% and 22% more oil than they borrow, although some bidders offered higher returns to secure allocations. For the first tranche alone, the structure is expected to boost the reserve by nearly 10 million barrels once repayments are made.The SPR, stored in underground sites along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, currently holds about 415 million barrels of crude, equivalent to more than four days of global consumption.Overall, while 172 million barrels are set to be lent out, the government expects to receive roughly 200 million barrels in return, factoring in the additional premium.Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said that he would tap into strategic reserves to reduce prices amid the ongoingIran war.“Right now we’ll reduce it a little bit and that brings the prices down,” Trump said in an interview with Local 12 television, when asked if he was going to tap the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

TOAST OF A NATION: The women’s team’s ODI World Cup victory was the high point for Indian sport in 2025 (Photo: Getty Images)

Lucknow: The biggest names in Indian sport will once again gather under one roof as the much-anticipated Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) returns to Lucknow for the third consecutive time on Saturday, celebrating the inspiring journeys and achievements of the country’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will grace the occasion as a guest and hand over the trophies honouring achievers and emerging stars who made the nation proud over the past year. The event will be attended by sporting legends like PT Usha, Leander Paes, Mithali Raj, Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil and Sardar Singh, and other top athletes, coaches, administrators and guests from across the country, making it one of the most prestigious sporting evenings of the year. This edition of TOISA will recognise athletes across more than 45 categories, honouring performances during the Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025 evaluation period. The wide range of categories ensures that excellence across mainstream as well as emerging sports disciplines is duly acknowledged. Having begun in 2015, TOISA completes a decade, and a special section will honour the best players of the past 10 years. Besides, there will be a special segment on the best player of the year from UP. For the last decade, para players have shown their mettle on fields and courts, bringing several laurels to the nation. To felicitate their talent, TOISA has 13 categories dedicated to para sports. A distinguished jury comprising eminent Indian sporting personalities — Abhinav Bindra, the country’s first individual Olympic gold medallist; tennis legend and Olympic medallist Leander Paes; PR Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic medallist; Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist; Mithali Raj, one of the greatest names in women’s cricket with over 10,000 international runs; and Sharath Kamal, India’s most decorated table tennis player with 13 Commonwealth Games medals — will select the winners. The jury faces a tough task in choosing from a star-studded list of nominees, as the past year witnessed several landmark achievements. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra continued his remarkable run on the global stage with outstanding performances in the Diamond League, while shooter Samrat Rana clinched three medals, including two golds, at the World Shooting Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. Lakshya Sen has been one of India’s top performers in badminton for quite some time now. He recently contested the final of the All England Championships. The young shuttler is cruising towards etching his name among the game’s elite. Indian cricket also enjoyed a historic year. The India women’s national cricket team lifted their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title on home soil, while the India men’s team captured both the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Smriti Mandhana’s World Cup-winning feat and her own performance were exceptional this year. She played a pivotal role in India’s historic win, scoring 434 runs overall, the maximum by any player. The Indian vice-captain scored a blistering 109-run innings against New Zealand and an 80-run innings against Australia, along with a crucial 45 runs in the final against South Africa. Another peach of a performance came from Deepti Sharma. This Agra girl’s all-round performance bagged her the Player of the Tournament award as well. In another remarkable feat, the India women’s blind cricket team became the first-ever champions of the Women’s Blind Cricket T20 World Cup. Beyond cricket, the India men’s hockey team triumphed at the Asia Cup, securing qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup. Indian para-athletes also shone brightly at the World Para Athletics Championships, returning with a rich haul. Promising athletes like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in cricket, Divya Deshmukh in chess, and Tanvi Sharma in badminton emerged as stars of the future. Through these honours, TOISA continues its mission of celebrating India’s sporting heroes, whose grit, dedication and excellence inspire India.

TOISA NOMINATIONS

Here are the nominees shortlisted for various categories by the illustrious TOISA jury, which includes icons like Abhinav Bindra, Mithali Raj and Leander Paes… BADMINTON (MALE) Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kiran George, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy BADMINTON (FEMALE) Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Tressa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand CRICKET (MALE) Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav CRICKET (FEMALE) Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma ATHLETICS (MALE) Neeraj Chopra, Animesh Kujur, Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav ATHLETICS (FEMALE) Parul Chaudhary, Rupal Chaudhary, Jyothi Yarraji, Pooja Singh EQUESTRIAN Ashish Limaye, Shruti Vora, Divyakriti Singh HOCKEY (MALE) Abhishek Nain, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas HOCKEY (FEMALE) Udita Duhan, Navneet Kaur, Mumtaz Khan, Rutuja Pisal SHOOTING (MALE) Samrat Rana, Ravinder Singh, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anish, Varun Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil SHOOTING (FEMALE) Suruchi Inder Singh, Simranpreet Kaur, Esha Singh, Elavenil Valarivan, Sift Kaur Samra, Manu Bhaker CHESS (MALE) R Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambaram, P Iniyan, Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi CHESS (FEMALE) Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, Nandhidhaa PV ARCHERY (MALE) Dhiraj Bommadevara, Abhishek Verma, Atanu Das, Prathamesh Fuge, Rishabh Yadav ARCHERY (FEMALE) Ankita Bhakat, Jyothi Surekha, Deepika Kumari, Prithika Pradeep BILLIARDS/SNOOKER Pankaj Advani, Aditya Mehta, Brijesh Damani WEIGHTLIFTING (MALE) Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Dilbag Singh, Lovepreet Singh WEIGHTLIFTING (FEMALE) Mirabai Chanu, Mehak Sharma, Bindyarani Devi WRESTLING (MALE) Sunil Kumar, Nitesh, Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal WRESTLING (FEMALE) Antim Panghal, Manisha, Nisha Dahiya SQUASH (MALE) Abhay Singh, Saurav Ghosal, Velavan Senthilkumar, Mahesh Mangaonkar SQUASH (FEMALE) Anahat Singh, Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal Karthik, Tanvi Khanna TABLE TENNIS (MALE) Manav Thakkar, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Harmeet Desai, Payas Jain TABLE TENNIS (FEMALE) Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, Ayhika Mukherjee TENNIS (MALE) Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Sumit Nagal TENNIS (FEMALE) Ankita Raina, Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli FOOTBALL (MALE) Subhasish Bose, Sunil Chhetri, Vishal Kaith, Brison Fernandes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu FOOTBALL (FEMALE) Soumya Guguloth, Grace Dangmei, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa KABADDI Sanju Devi, Pawan Sehrawat, Ritu Negi, Arjun Deshwal BOXING (MALE) Sachin Siwach, Hitesh Gulia, Pawan Bartwal, Ankush Panghal BOXING (FEMALE) Minakshi Hooda, Jaismine Lamboria, Nikhat Zareen, Pooja Rani SAILING Vishnu Saravanan, Zahaan Hemrajani, Abhimanyu Panwar, Ghashiayah A COACH OF THE YEAR Amol Majumdar (Cricket), Suresh Singh (Shooting), Ashok Kumar Rana (Shooting) PARA ARCHERY (MALE) Harvinder Singh, Vivek Chikara, Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sunder Swami PARA ARCHERY (FEMALE) Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, Jyoti Baliyan PARA ATHLETICS (MALE) Sumit Antil, Shailesh Kumar, Sandeep Kumar, Nishad Kumar PARA ATHLETICS (FEMALE) Simran Sharma, Preethi Pal, Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji PARA BADMINTON (MALE) Pramod Bhagat, Sukant Kadam, Krishna Nagar PARA BADMINTON (FEMALE) Mandeep Kaur, Manasi Joshi, Nithya Sre PARA CHESS Vaibhav Gautam, Samarth J Rao, Venkata Krishna Karthik K PARA JUDO Kapil Parmar, Avidha Sharma, Rahul Rajora, Kokila PARA SHOOTING (MALE) Bhat Amir Ahmad, Nihal Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Rudransh Khandelwal PARA SHOOTING (FEMALE) Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara, Rubi Kumari EMERGING SPORTSPERSON Tanvi Sharma (Badminton), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Shree Charani (Cricket), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Cricket) PARA SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), Praveen Kumar (Para Athletics – High Jump), Preethi Pal (Para Athletics – Sprint), Sumit Antil (Para Athletics – Javelin) PARA COACH OF THE YEAR Dr. Satyapal Singh (Para Athletics), Subhash Rana (Para Shooting), Gaurav Khanna (Para Badminton), Sandhya Bharti (Para Taekwondo) TEAM OF THE YEAR India Women’s Cricket Team, India Men’s Cricket Team, India Men’s Hockey Team, India Men’s & Women’s Kabaddi Teams, India National Shooting Team, India Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind, India Squash Team, India Women’s Ice Hockey Team

The United States is rapidly increasing its military presence in the Middle East, deploying thousands of Marines and multiple warships in the region as tensions with Iran continue to rise during the ongoing war.Around 2,200–2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are being deployed aboard the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, according to Associated Press. This could take the number of additional US forces in the region to several thousand, on top of the nearly 50,000 troops already stationed in the Middle East.

Why is the US increasing its deployment?

The deployment comes nearly three weeks after the US and Israel launched a large-scale air campaign against Iran. Both sides have attacked one another with drone and missile attacks, including disruption in the functioning of the Strait of Hormuz.US officials say the additional forces are meant to boost operational readiness and provide options for future missions, including evacuation operations, securing sea routes or potential ground action if required.There are also discussions within the US administration about pressuring Iran by targeting key oil infrastructure.

USS Boxer: Floating assault base with air power

The USS Boxer, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is the lead vessel in this deployment and serves as a floating military base. Often described as a small aircraft carrier, it can operate F-35B stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters and MV-22 Osprey aircraft, giving it strong airstrike capability.Beyond aviation, its core role is to support amphibious assaults, allowing Marines to be deployed directly onto hostile shores, according to the war zone. The ship carries over 2,000 troops, along with equipment, landing craft and command systems, making it capable of launching and sustaining combat operations independently.

USS Portland: Troop transport and logistics backbone

The USS Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, plays a key role in moving troops, vehicles and supplies. It is designed to carry more than 800 Marines along with heavy equipment and features a large flight deck that supports helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft like the MV-22 Osprey, MH-605 Seahawk helicopters and CH-53-E Super Stallion heavy-lift aircraft.The ship also includes a well deck to launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles, enabling forces to move from sea to shore efficiently. Its primary role is to act as a logistics and transport hub, ensuring sustained operations during extended missions.

USS Comstock: Landing support and amphibious operations

The USS Comstock, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, is focused on enabling amphibious landings. It is equipped to launch and recover landing craft, air-cushion vehicles and amphibious assault equipment, making it crucial for operations near coastlines.The vessel supports both combat and humanitarian missions and plays a vital role in delivering troops and supplies during operations. Its capabilities allow the US military to establish a strong foothold in coastal areas.The presence of these three ships together forms a powerful Amphibious Ready Group, capable of carrying out airstrikes, troop deployments and ground operations.Apart from the Boxer group, the US has also deployed the USS Tripoli, another amphibious assault ship carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from the Indo-Pacific region.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling nearly 20% of global oil trade. Any disruption in this region can have a major impact on global oil prices and energy security.

Which ships has been earlier deployed?

As part of the growing US military presence amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, several warships have been deployed in the Middle East.At the center of deployment comes USS Tripoli. It is an amphibious assault ship capable of transporting landing and supporting ground troops and their equipment on hostile or foreign shores.In addition to these amphibious vessels, the United States has also maintained a broader naval presence that includes aircraft carriers and other naval assets supporting operations in the region.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has been active in the Arabian Sea and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford has been operating in adjacent waters in support of ongoing military actions.

New Delhi: In a significant development in the 1996 Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case, Delhi High Court on Thursday directed convict Santosh Singh to surrender on Monday, after the victim’s brother strongly opposed his plea for premature release. Justice Anup J Bhambhani issued the order after taking note of submissions by Hemant Mattoo, Priyadarshini’s elder brother and the last surviving member of the family. The court said it would consider Singh’s plea for remission only after he surrenders. Earlier in Jan, the court had issued notice to Hemant, noting that the “next of kin of the deceased/victim have not been intimated of the pendency of the present petition seeking premature release.” Singh, who was granted parole last year, has remained out of prison after securing extensions from the high court while his plea for remission is pending. Appearing in the matter for the first time after being asked by the court, Hemant—represented by advocate Urvika Suri—opposed the plea and said he wished to assist the court in explaining why the Sentence Review Board (SRB) was right in rejecting Singh’s request for premature release. Last year, a different high court bench had set aside the SRB’s decision, observing that Singh had shown signs of reform. The court noted that the SRB had relied only on the gravity, cruelty and perversity of the crime, and on objections raised by Delhi Police and the CBI. The bench had also noted that Singh was lodged in an open prison, allowing him to leave the prison complex daily between 8 am and 8 pm for work as a legal consultant—an indication, it said, of positive reformative conduct. Priyadarshini Mattoo, 25, was raped and murdered in Jan 1996. Singh, then a law student at Delhi University, was acquitted by a trial court in 1999. However, on Oct 27, 2006, Delhi High Court overturned the verdict, convicted him of rape and murder, and sentenced him to death. In Oct 2010, Supreme Court upheld the conviction but commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.