WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon is sending three more warships and roughly 2,200 to 2,500 more Marines to the Middle East, marking the second deployment of Marines to the region within a week as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran escalates, multiple U.S. media outlets reported on Friday.

U.S. officials confirmed Friday that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have deployed from their home port of San Diego, California, and are heading to the Middle East, said the reports.

The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and negatively affecting the global economy. ■