The U.S. Navy's amphibious assault ship Boxer (LHD 4) sails in the East Sea during exercise Ssangyong 2016 on March 8, 2016. [Photo: MCSN Craig Z. Rodarte/U.S. Navy]

The U.S. military is accelerating the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to augment forces engaged in combat operations against Iran, Newsmax reported Thursday, citing officials.

According to three officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Amphibious Ready Group "Boxer" and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are being deployed from the West Coast ahead of schedule.

These units are expected to travel through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East after the Navy received orders to increase operational readiness with additional firepower.

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, and the amphibious transport docks USS Portland and USS Comstock.

With 2,500 Marines aboard the three amphibious assault ships, the total troop strength reaches approximately 4,000 personnel. The vessels are equipped with F-35 fighter jets, missiles, and amphibious assault equipment capable of launching ground assaults.

Navy and Marine Corps personnel have shortened their leave periods after completing their qualifications and training to expedite their deployment schedule, according to officials.

The "Boxer" is scheduled to join the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, which is already en route to the Middle East. Both ships are capable of carrying F-35 Lightning, AV-8 Harrier, Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, as well as various Viper, Venom, Nighthawk, and Stallion helicopters, and can launch Rolling Airframe (RAF) and Sea Sparrow missiles.

While ships that will be deployed to the region with the USS Tripoli have not been previously reported, multiple officials told Newsmax that the guided-missile cruiser USS New Orleans will join them in the near future.

The Amphibious Ready Group travels in a three-ship formation, and these two ships previously sailed with the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego in the Philippine Sea.

The San Diego is expected to remain in the Pacific region for maintenance, according to Newsmax, and one official explained that the amphibious assault ship USS Rushmore, based in Japan, is expected to join the two ships in the Middle East.

Six amphibious assault ships are slated to deploy an additional approximately 8,000 troops to the region, with 4,000 to 5,000 of them being Marines.

The news of the additional troop deployment comes amid ongoing speculation about whether the U.S. will attempt to seize Iranian islands that are crucial to Tehran's oil industry.

Previously, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was withdrawn from the region for repairs after a fire broke out in its laundry room.

U.S. NNP=Reporter Hong Seong-gu / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com