Washington - The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran - potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz - though President Donald Trump has not yet approved any deployment, the Washington Post reported Saturday.
Any ground operation would stop short of a full-scale invasion, instead involving raids by special operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the Post said, citing unnamed officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Friday the United States "can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops," but the Post said planning is advanced, with one official saying: "This is not last-minute planning."
The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for the possibility of weeks-long ground operations in Iran, as thousands of U.S. soldiers and Marines have been deployed to the Middle East. This comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran and could signal a dangerous new phase of the conflict should President Trump choose to escalate the situation.
A ground invasion of Iran would represent a major escalation of U.S. military involvement in the region, with potentially severe consequences for regional stability, global oil supplies, and US relations with allies. It would also carry significant risks for American troops and civilians on both sides.
According to The Washington Post, "The Pentagon is making preparations for a potential weeks-long ground operation in Iran, as thousands of additional U.S. soldiers and Marines have arrived in the Middle East. This buildup of forces suggests the U.S. is preparing for a possible military strike or ground invasion, though the specific plans and triggers for such an operation remain unclear."
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