Pentagon confirms ‘elements’ of Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne to deploy
“Elements” of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are set to deploy to the U.S. Central Command’s “area of responsibility,” a Department of Defense official confirmed to The News & Observer on Wednesday.
That includes parts “of the 82nd Airborne Division HQs” and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, a Department of Defense official told The N&O.
CENTCOM’s “area of responsibility” spans over 4 million miles across the globe and includes the Middle East and parts of Africa. Pentagon officials did not confirm the exact location of the deployment, but armed forces are likely headed to aid the U.S. war with Iran.
Defense officials told The New York Times that the Fort Bragg-based unit’s “Immediate Response Force” was being considered to aid in the war.
That includes “a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours,” The Times reported Monday.
Officials from Fort Bragg directed The News & Observer’s requests for information to the Pentagon on Tuesday, which directed questions to the White House.
White House officials did not immediately respond when reached for comment again about the deployment on Wednesday.
Over 1,000 civilians and more than 10 U.S. service members have been killed since a Feb. 28 order from President Donald Trump launched the attacks on Iran.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 5:18 PM.
