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Pentagon orders 2,000 soldiers to deploy to the Middle East, source confirms

NPR | By Quil Lawrence,
A Martínez
Published March 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM EDT

A U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to NPR that the Pentagon has ordered some 2,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Quil Lawrence
Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.
A Martínez
A Martínez is one of the hosts of Morning Edition and Up First. He came to NPR in 2021 and is based out of NPR West.
See stories by A Martínez
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