U.S. Marines Return to Japan After Iran War Blockade Deployment
The USS Tripoli and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Okinawa, Japan, on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment. The 2,200 service members enforced a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, redirecting 140 ships and disabling nine. They conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation, transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, and refueled 300 aircraft. A brief ceasefire pause failed, leading to blockade renewal on July 14.
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Thousands of Marines and Sailors Return to Japan After Iran War Deployment
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to Okinawa, Japan, on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. operations in the Iran war. The approximately 2,200 service members enforced a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The blockade, which began April 13 and ended June 18, redirected over 140 compliant ships and disabled nine non-compliant vessels. It was briefly paused after a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but was renewed on July 14 after ceasefire talks failed. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces, transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft.
Thousands of Marines and Sailors Return to Japan After Iran War Deployment
The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising approximately 2,200 service members, returned to Okinawa, Japan on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The unit helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The blockade initially ran from April 13 to June 18, redirecting over 140 compliant ships and disabling nine non-compliant vessels. It was briefly paused after a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but was renewed on July 14 after ceasefire talks failed. The ARG-MEU also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces, transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft.
Thousands of Marines and sailors return to Japan after deploying for the Iran war
The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising approximately 2,200 service members, returned to Okinawa, Japan on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The ARG-MEU enforced a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The blockade ran from April 13 to June 18, redirecting over 140 compliant ships and disabling nine non-compliant vessels. It was briefly paused after a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran, but was renewed on July 14 after a ceasefire failed. During the deployment, the unit transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces before entering the CENTCOM area of operations.
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Thousands of Marines and Sailors Return to Japan After Iran War Deployment
The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising approximately 2,200 service members, returned to Okinawa, Japan on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The unit helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. During the deployment, they transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accidents, and refueled more than 300 aircraft. The initial blockade, from April 13 to June 18, redirected 140 compliant ships and disabled nine non-compliant vessels. A brief pause followed a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but the blockade was renewed on July 14 after ceasefire talks failed. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese Self-Defense Forces before entering the Central Command area of operations.
Thousands of Marines and sailors return to Japan after Iran war deployment
The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising approximately 2,200 service members, returned to Okinawa, Japan on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The unit helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The blockade, which began April 13 and ended June 18, redirected over 140 compliant ships and disabled nine non-compliant vessels. It was briefly paused after a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but was renewed on July 14 after ceasefire talks failed. The deployment included participation in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces, transport of 800,000 pounds of cargo, over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueling of more than 300 aircraft.
Thousands of Marines and Sailors Return to Japan After Iran War Deployment
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to Okinawa, Japan, on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The approximately 2,200 service members helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The ARG-MEU transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft. The initial blockade ran from April 13 to June 18, redirecting over 140 compliant ships and disabling nine non-compliant vessels. A brief 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding paused operations for peace talks, but the U.S. renewed the blockade on July 14 after a ceasefire failed. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces before deploying.
Thousands of Marines and sailors return to Japan after Iran war deployment
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to Okinawa, Japan, on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The approximately 2,200 service members helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The ARG-MEU transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft. The blockade, which began April 13 and ended June 18, redirected over 140 compliant ships and disabled nine non-compliant ships. A brief 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding paused operations for peace talks, but the U.S. renewed the blockade on July 14 after a ceasefire failed. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese Self-Defense Forces before deploying.
Thousands of Marines and Sailors Return to Japan After Iran War Deployment
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to Okinawa, Japan on July 22, 2026, after a six-month deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East during the Iran war. The approximately 2,200 service members helped enforce a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Epic Fury. The ARG-MEU transported 800,000 pounds of cargo, conducted over 1,600 hours of combat aviation missions without accident, and refueled more than 300 aircraft. The initial blockade ran from April 13 to June 18, redirecting 140 compliant ships and disabling nine non-compliant vessels. A brief pause followed a 60-day interim Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but the U.S. renewed the blockade on July 14 after ceasefire talks failed. The unit also participated in Exercise Iron Fist 26 with Japanese forces before deploying.
Forward-Deployed USS Tripoli Concludes Six-Month Mission, Returns to Japan
The USS Tripoli (LHA-7), a forward-deployed America-class amphibious assault ship, has arrived in Okinawa, Japan, concluding a six-month deployment. The ship led an amphibious ready group (ARG) including USS New Orleans and USS Rushmore, carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The deployment began with Exercise Iron Fist 26 alongside Japan Self-Defense Forces in February-March 2026. Subsequently, the ARG-MEU was dispatched to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, arriving in the Middle East on March 27, 2026, to participate in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. During combat operations, the unit conducted over 1,600 mishap-free hours of combat aviation missions, including precision strikes, transporting 800,000 pounds of cargo, moving approximately 5,000 personnel, and refueling over 300 aircraft. The 31st MEU is now offloading at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, before the Tripoli returns to its homeport in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.