US warship with 550 Marines enters Persian Gulf
![US warship with 550 Marines enters Persian Gulf](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/28/96/40/00/rtr27w6c.si.jpg)
The USS Mesa Verde with 550 Marines onboard has entered the Persian Gulf on Monday for a possible operation in Iraq. It comes after President Obama ruled out sending ground troops to the militant-assaulted country.
The USS Mesa Verde is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, a ship designed to carry an expeditionary force across the sea and deploy landing craft and helicopters.
The ship’s presence in the region “provides the commander-in-chief additional options to protect American citizens and interests in Iraq, should he choose to use them.” Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement.
“USS Mesa Verde is capable of conducting a variety of quick reaction and crisis response operations. The ship carries a complement of MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.” He said.
.@PentagonPresSec statement on movement of USS Mesa Verde into Arabian Gulf: http://t.co/lo4vsxz8bO
— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) June 16, 2014
Washington already dispatched the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to the Gulf on Saturday.
![A handout picture released by the US Navy shows aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sailing in the Arabian Sea on June 13, 2014. (AFP Photo)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/28/96/40/00/000_ts-nic6338617.jpg)
President Barack Obama said he considered military action to help
the Iraqi government deal with the threat of militant offensive
which has already claimed large parts of the country in a
surprise lightning operation.
But the president said he didn’t intend to send ground troops to
Iraq again, two years after pulling out American troops from the
country.