Mississippi National Guard troops have been deployed to the Middle East to support the United States’ ongoing conflict with Iran, according to Maj. Gen. Bobby Ginn, the state’s adjutant general. He confirmed Thursday that soldiers and airmen from units including the 186th Air Refueling Wing, 172nd Airlift Wing, 2-20th Special Forces Battalion, and Special Operations Detachment were sent in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
The deployment supports Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-led campaign coordinated with Israel aimed at neutralizing Iran as a threat. The conflict intensified after a surprise attack on Iran on Feb. 28, with the Trump administration working to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, according to officials.
Governor Tate Reeves expressed support for the troops, saying, “Mississippi is praying for the brave members of the Mississippi National Guard and all U.S. Service Members who have been deployed as part of Operation Epic Fury. Our state’s guardsmen are truly the best of the best, and Mississippi will always be grateful to them and their families for courageously defending our nation.”
The conflict has faced opposition domestically. In early March, Senate Democrats proposed legislation to halt military action, but the measure was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate. A poll by Quinnipiac University found that about 53% of registered voters oppose U.S. military involvement in Iran.
The war has also affected U.S. energy supplies. Iran responded to the initial attack by attacking shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route that carries roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas. So far, 13 U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict, including six in an aircraft crash during refueling in Iraq. Others have died in attacks in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. No fatalities among Mississippi service members have been reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
