Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
Thousands of U.S. Sailors and Marines have arrived in the Middle East.
NPR Shandalee Stuster reports their deployment comes as the U.S.-Israeli-led war against Iran enters its fifth week.
U.S. Central Command said Saturday in a social media post that about 3,500 sailors and Marines
arrived in the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan, arrived in the Middle East on Friday, the Post said.
The unit also has transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets.
U.S. Central Command did not say what mission the unit will be carrying out.
At least 2,000 additional soldiers have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East,
where the U.S. Already has 40,000 to 50,000 troops.
Chandelice Duster, NPR News.
Demonstrations were held across the nation on Saturday to protest the policies of President Trump.
Organizers of the No Kings rally say millions of people turned out in major cities,
suburbs, and small towns in both red and blue states.
In Utica, New York, demonstrator Aaron Woodman said he came to call attention to actions
being taken by the Trump administration, including the war in Iran.
Even though in the Constitution it says we have these procedures to follow,
here, and if we 're not following them, then of course we 're going to let these negative things happen here.
So the more that this happens, the more we have to be like, no, we elected you to follow the law here,
and if you 're not doing that, you 're not standing up for us, then we 're going to hold you accountable here.