The USS Boxer-led amphibious readiness group’s last public notices were May 13 from the Indian Ocean, with photos of crewmembers conducting their daily underway tasks — it is heading to the Iranian theater, and its arrival on station could signal the resumption of the war.
The Boxer ARG is loaded with roughly 2,000 Marines and nine landing craft — all aligned with the mission of seizing islands in the Strait of Hormuz, from where the Iranians launch mosquito boats and drones used to harass merchant vessels and Navy ships.
Boxer, joined by USS Comstock and USS Portland, departed San Diego on March 20, and under normal steaming conditions should have been on station by the middle of April.
When President Donald J. Trump agreed to the April 7 ceasefire, Boxer was held over in Guam and Saipan. There, crewmembers joined community projects, including beach cleanups in Guam and efforts supporting Saipan’s recovery from a typhoon.
As the ceasefire dragged on, negotiations with Iran stretched on as well, with Tehran appearing to play for time while the president prepared for his visit to China.
Trump returned to the White House Friday, and on Monday posted on Truth Social that the United States was moments away from relaunching attacks on Iran before agreeing to delay military action at the request of Middle Eastern leaders.
In the post, Trump said the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates asked him to hold off on planned military strikes because serious negotiations were underway and a deal remained possible.
Trump emphasized that any agreement would include “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN,” while also warning that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Daniel Caine and the U.S. military to be prepared for a “full, large-scale assault of Iran” on short notice if talks collapse.
Now, the world and global markets are waiting.
If Trump resumes combat operations against Iran, Boxer may emerge from the shadows and into the center of the conflict.