The Defense Department has activated approximately 700 active-duty U.S. Marines, preparing them to deploy to Los Angeles to assist the California National Guard as they respond to protests in the city, Scripps News has confirmed.

The soldiers are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California.

They will work with some 2,100 National Guard personnel already deployed in the greater Los Angeles Area. All the personnel have been "trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force," U.S. Northern Command said.

While a formal timeline for their deployment has not been given, an unnamed official told ABC news the Marines were expected to be deployed within 24 hours.

The

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