US expected to send thousands more soldiers to Middle East, sources say

One of the sources said the Pentagon was set to send between ​3,000 and 4,000 soldiers. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images.

The Pentagon is expected to send ​thousands of soldiers from the US Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the ‌matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to a massive US military buildup even as President Donald Trump talks about a possible deal with Tehran to end the war.

Reuters first reported on March 18 that Mr Trump's administration was considering deploying thousands of additional US troops, a move that would expand options to include deployment of forces ​inside Iranian territory. Such an escalation could dramatically raise the stakes in the conflict, which is already in its fourth week ​and has roiled global markets.