The USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East with 3,500 Marines and sailors on board, sparking speculation about a possible US ground operation in Iran.

The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command said on Saturday, as speculation soared about the possible deployment of US ground troops in Iran. The ship arrived in the region on Friday, CENTCOM said in a social media post, noting that the vessel is the flagship for a contingent of “about 3,500” Marines and sailors. The group also includes “transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets”, it said. The post...