President Trump's new Iran option: USS Tripoli ready to strike fast, hard

Moving at speed from the Philippine Sea near China, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is now on station for U.S. Central Command. Aboard are 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. With them are aircraft designed to strike into Iran — or control coastal positions along the Strait of Hormuz.

And get this: all of Tripoli’s aircraft are designed for vertical takeoffs from the flight deck. Yes, even the F-35B stealth fighters aboard can take off like helicopters.