據(jù)《紐約時報(bào)》報(bào)道稱，數(shù)百名美國特種作戰(zhàn)部隊(duì)人員已抵達(dá)中東（The New York Times has reported that hundreds of US special operations forces have arrived in the Middle East）。

該報(bào)周日援引美國軍方消息人士報(bào)道，這些特種部隊(duì)隊(duì)員包括陸軍游騎兵和海軍海豹突擊隊(duì)，他們將與已部署在該地區(qū)的數(shù)千名海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)員及陸軍傘兵會合（joining thousands of Marines and Army paratroopers already in the region）。

報(bào)道還稱，這支特種部隊(duì)尚未被分配具體任務(wù)，但消息人士表示，他們可能被部署用來保衛(wèi)霍爾木茲海峽——該航道目前已被伊朗實(shí)際限制通行（but sources said they could be deployed to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively restricted）。

消息人士還稱，這些特種部隊(duì)可能參與兩項(xiàng)任務(wù)：包括奪取伊朗主要石油運(yùn)輸樞紐哈爾克島，或針對伊斯法罕核設(shè)施內(nèi)的高濃縮鈾開展行動（The sources also said the special forces could be deployed in a mission to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil shipment hub, or in an operation targeting highly enriched uranium at the Isfahan nuclear site）。

《紐約時報(bào)》稱，此次部署為美國總統(tǒng)唐納德·特朗普提供了更多選項(xiàng)，以擴(kuò)大這場已持續(xù)一個月的對伊戰(zhàn)爭（The New York Times said the deployment gives US President Donald Trump "additional options to expand the monthlong war with Iran."。