The arrival of 2,500 U.S. Marines in the Middle East comes as the Houthis, a Yemen-based Iran-backed militant group, launched a ballistic missile at Israel, marking a new phase in the regional conflict. The U.K. deployed the troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit on the U.N. Tripoli, accompanied by 2,000 sailors. The forces are positioned to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil route largely controlled by Iran. President Donald Trump emphasized ongoing negotiations with Iran regarding a resolution of the conflict. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the US does not require ground troops to achieve its objectives and predicted that the war could conclude within weeks rather than months.