U.S. increasing Middle East military buildup –A third aircraft carrier and some 9,000 additional troops are on their way to the region, an American official told AP | 2 Oct 2026 | Washington is sending more warships and troops to the Middle East as U.S. President Donald Trump is considering the resumption of large-scale strikes against Iran after the midterms, AP has reported. In a Time magazine interview published Thursday, Trump said that new attacks on the Islamic Republic were “possible” after the U.S. election on November 3, but declined to reveal any further details. In its article on Thursday, AP said that a third aircraft carrier and some 9,000 additional service members, including 7,000 sailors and 2,000 marines, are currently on their way to the area of the conflict with Iran. It would increase the U.S. military presence in the Middle East to more than 20,000, which is “an unusually high number,” it stressed.