Amid the escalating war with Iran, the United States has sped up the deployment of thousands of additional troops and sailors to West Asia. Three warships, USS Boxer, USS Portland, and USS Comstock, carrying around 2,500 Marines, departed Naval Base San Diego, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing local media reports.&nbsp;The USS Boxer functions as a small aircraft carrier, while the USS Portland and USS Comstock are amphibious landing vessels.&nbsp;The war in West Asia has entered its third week, with Iran remaining defiant despite US-Israeli strikes successfully killing Tehran’s top leadership. In the last week alone, four top leaders of the Islamic Republic, including powerful security chief Ali Larijani, were killed in airstrikes. Earlier, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also killed in similar attacks.&nbsp;The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28 targeting top Iranian leadership and key strategic locations across the country, has spread across the region. Tehran has struck US bases across Gulf nations and effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global oil shipments.<h2>What is USS Boxer?</h2>The USS Boxer (LHD-4) is a formidable Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that serves as a cornerstone of the United States Navy’s power projection and maritime strategy. Commissioned in February 1995, the vessel is the fourth of its class and is designed to operate as a multi-purpose command hub for global operations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-sends-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan-after-pakistani-strikes-kill-over-400-in-kabul-rehab-hospital-1774017238802">India sends humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after Pakistani strikes kill over 400 in Kabul rehab hospital</a>&nbsp;Currently, the US Navy maintains a fleet of seven active Wasp-class ships, which are being progressively supplemented and eventually replaced by the newer America-class amphibious assault ships. The USS Boxer is approximately 844 feet long, with a displacement of over 40,500 tonnes, effectively functioning as a “small aircraft carrier” tailored for specialised expeditionary warfare.&nbsp;The main utility of the USS Boxer lies in its “tri-phibious” capability, allowing it to coordinate strikes from sea, land, and air simultaneously. Its primary mission is to transport, deploy, and support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of nearly 2,000 personnel.&nbsp;Unlike standard carriers, the Boxer features a massive “well deck”, a floodable internal compartment that allows hovercraft and landing craft to float directly out of the ship’s stern.&nbsp;&nbsp;Its expansive flight deck accommodates a versatile air wing, including F-35B stealth fighters, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and various attack helicopters. Beyond combat, the ship also serves as a mobile medical facility with 600 beds and six operating rooms, making it an essential asset for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions worldwide.

The main utility of the USS Boxer lies in its “tri-phibious” capability, allowing it to coordinate strikes from sea, land, and air simultaneously. Its primary mission is to transport, deploy, and support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of nearly 2,000 personnel.

Amid the escalating war with Iran, the United States has sped up the deployment of thousands of additional troops and sailors to West Asia. Three warships, USS Boxer, USS Portland, and USS Comstock, carrying around 2,500 Marines, departed Naval Base San Diego, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing local media reports. The USS Boxer functions as a small aircraft carrier, while the USS Portland and USS Comstock are amphibious landing vessels. The war in West Asia has entered its third week, with Iran remaining defiant despite US-Israeli strikes successfully killing Tehran’s top leadership. In the last week alone, four top leaders of the Islamic Republic, including powerful security chief Ali Larijani, were killed in airstrikes. Earlier, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also killed in similar attacks. The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28 targeting top Iranian leadership and key strategic locations across the country, has spread across the region. Tehran has struck US bases across Gulf nations and effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global oil shipments. What is USS Boxer? The USS Boxer (LHD-4) is a formidable Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that serves as a cornerstone of the United States Navy’s power projection and maritime strategy. Commissioned in February 1995, the vessel is the fourth of its class and is designed to operate as a multi-purpose command hub for global operations. Also Read: India sends humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after Pakistani strikes kill over 400 in Kabul rehab hospital Currently, the US Navy maintains a fleet of seven active Wasp-class ships, which are being progressively supplemented and eventually replaced by the newer America-class amphibious assault ships. The USS Boxer is approximately 844 feet long, with a displacement of over 40,500 tonnes, effectively functioning as a “small aircraft carrier” tailored for specialised expeditionary warfare. The main utility of the USS Boxer lies in its “tri-phibious” capability, allowing it to coordinate strikes from sea, land, and air simultaneously. Its primary mission is to transport, deploy, and support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of nearly 2,000 personnel. Unlike standard carriers, the Boxer features a massive “well deck”, a floodable internal compartment that allows hovercraft and landing craft to float directly out of the ship’s stern. Its expansive flight deck accommodates a versatile air wing, including F-35B stealth fighters, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and various attack helicopters. Beyond combat, the ship also serves as a mobile medical facility with 600 beds and six operating rooms, making it an essential asset for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions worldwide.

The main utility of the USS Boxer lies in its “tri-phibious” capability, allowing it to coordinate strikes from sea, land, and air simultaneously. Its primary mission is to transport, deploy, and support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of nearly 2,000 personnel.

What is USS Boxer? US warship deployed in West Asia as Iran war enters third week

Iran has recently released footage allegedly showing drone and the USS Boxer, disproving the US downed drone claim. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump said the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the aircraft threatened the ship by flying to within 1,000 yards of it.

Breaking News: Iran releases footage as 'proof' disproving the US downed drone claim

President Donald Trump said today that the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the aircraft threatened the ship by flying to within 1,000 yards of it. Watch this video to know more.

Iran-US tension rises, US downs Iranian drone while Iran denies claim

President Donald Trump said the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the aircraft threatened the ship by flying to within 1,000 yards of it.

US ship destroyed Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump said the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the aircraft threatened the ship by flying to within 1,000 yards of it. Watch this video to know more.

Trump: US downs Iranian drone, Iran denies claims

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-donald-trump-236999">US President Donald Trump</a>'s assertion that the US Navy has destroyed an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-deputy-foreign-minister-says-tehran-has-not-lost-any-drones-237039">Iranian drone in the Gulf</a>,&nbsp;Iranian news agencies reported.

"Soon, images captured by the Guards drones from the US warship Boxer will be published to expose to world public opinion as lies and groundless the claim ... of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz," the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by news agencies.

Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an&nbsp;amphibious assault ship, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the&nbsp;Strait of Hormuz&nbsp;after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters.

"We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway.

First US military action

The drone shootdown comes after a series of low-level attacks in the region blamed on Tehran's forces, including placing limpet mines on several tankers and actions by what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen.

Watch:&nbsp;US ship destroyed Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-ship-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-president-donald-trump-237013/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In May the Pentagon announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to waters near Iran in response to "indications of a credible threat by Iranian regime forces."

Tehran downed an American surveillance drone in June, prompting Trump to order airstrikes against Iran. But he called them off at the last minute, saying the plan was not "proportionate" and casualties would have been too high.

On July 4 Britain seized a fully loaded Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar, allegedly headed for Syria in violation of sanctions.

Iran furiously branded the seizure "piracy, and one week later armed Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate.

That led to US calls for an international flotilla to escort hydrocarbon-laden vessels from Gulf oil fields through the Hormuz Strait.

US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters.

Broader conflict feared

The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and&nbsp; 
its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported.

It comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal.

Earlier this month Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the other parties -- France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia -- to break with the US sanctions escalation and defend the economic benefits Iran was promised for agreeing to drastic limitations on its nuclear program.

On Wednesday at the United Nations in New York, Zarif accused Washington of waging "economic terrorism."&nbsp;

The "unlawful, extraterritorial" sanctions "represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbours," he said.

Washington nevertheless announced fresh sanctions Thursday on what it called a "network" of companies in Iran, Belgium and China supplying crucial materials to Tehran's enrichment program.&nbsp;

Door open for negotiations?

Yet both sides kept open the possibility of talks. The Guardian reported Thursday that Zarif said he had offered a new deal for enhanced inspections of Iran's nuclear program if Washington agrees to remove sanctions.&nbsp;

Trump appeared to be receptive as well to negotiations.

He told reporters that the pressure on Iran had forced the country to reduce regional activities and suggested that could lead to negotiations.

"You look at them pulling back, and they're not pulling back because they love us. They're pulling back because they don't have money," Trump said.

"All we want to do is have a fair deal. The deal that was made was a bad deal... We can do something quickly or we can take our time. I'm in no rush."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove US President Donald Trump's assertion that the US Navy has destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf, Iranian news agencies reported.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove US President Donald Trump's assertion that the US Navy has destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf, Iranian news agencies reported. "Soon, images captured by the Guards drones from the US warship Boxer will be published to expose to world public opinion as lies and groundless the claim ... of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz," the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by news agencies. Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters. "We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway. First US military action The drone shootdown comes after a series of low-level attacks in the region blamed on Tehran's forces, including placing limpet mines on several tankers and actions by what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. Watch: US ship destroyed Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump In May the Pentagon announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to waters near Iran in response to "indications of a credible threat by Iranian regime forces." Tehran downed an American surveillance drone in June, prompting Trump to order airstrikes against Iran. But he called them off at the last minute, saying the plan was not "proportionate" and casualties would have been too high. On July 4 Britain seized a fully loaded Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar, allegedly headed for Syria in violation of sanctions. Iran furiously branded the seizure "piracy, and one week later armed Iranian boats menaced a British tanker in the Gulf before they were driven off by a Royal Navy frigate. That led to US calls for an international flotilla to escort hydrocarbon-laden vessels from Gulf oil fields through the Hormuz Strait. US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged Thursday to work "aggressively" with partners to ensure freedom of navigation in Gulf waters. Broader conflict feared The incidents have raised fears of a regional conflict involving the US and its allies in the Gulf region, through which nearly a third of the world's oil is transported. It comes amid a threatened breakdown of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with Washington steadily ratcheting up economically debilitating sanctions on Tehran a year after unilaterally quitting the deal. Earlier this month Tehran purposely surpassed the deal's caps on uranium enrichment, aiming to pressure the other parties -- France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia -- to break with the US sanctions escalation and defend the economic benefits Iran was promised for agreeing to drastic limitations on its nuclear program. On Wednesday at the United Nations in New York, Zarif accused Washington of waging "economic terrorism." The "unlawful, extraterritorial" sanctions "represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbours," he said. Washington nevertheless announced fresh sanctions Thursday on what it called a "network" of companies in Iran, Belgium and China supplying crucial materials to Tehran's enrichment program. Door open for negotiations? Yet both sides kept open the possibility of talks. The Guardian reported Thursday that Zarif said he had offered a new deal for enhanced inspections of Iran's nuclear program if Washington agrees to remove sanctions. Trump appeared to be receptive as well to negotiations. He told reporters that the pressure on Iran had forced the country to reduce regional activities and suggested that could lead to negotiations. "You look at them pulling back, and they're not pulling back because they love us. They're pulling back because they don't have money," Trump said. "All we want to do is have a fair deal. The deal that was made was a bad deal... We can do something quickly or we can take our time. I'm in no rush."

Will release images to disprove US claim that drone was shot down: Iran's Revolutionary Guards

uss-boxer

Uss Boxer, News on Uss Boxer, stories on Uss Boxer, articles on Uss Boxer, Uss Boxer stories at Wion, Uss Boxer news, Uss Boxer latest news