According to a recent report, the Pentagon is gearing up for an extensive ground operation in Iran, marking a significant escalation in President Trump’s mission to dismantle what remains of the Iranian regime. This operation could see U.S. troops deployed in the region for several weeks.
The Washington Post, referencing insider sources, revealed that thousands of U.S. Marines, including Special Operations units and conventional infantry, are expected to be dispatched to the Middle East to carry out a series of raids.
For several weeks, officials have been engaged in discussions over the potential deployment of American forces into Iran.
The ongoing American military campaign, now entering its second month, follows the joint U.S.-Israel strikes on February 28. These operations targeted Iranian military sites and resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with around 40 top officials.
President Trump has yet to make any public statements regarding the Pentagon’s proposed plans or indicate whether he will endorse any part of them.
“The Pentagon’s role is to prepare so that the Commander in Chief has the widest range of options available. This doesn’t imply that the President has already made a decision,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to the Washington Post.
The troop movement would fall short of a full-scale invasion, but could still put US military servicemembers in danger of Iranian military weapons.
Roughly 10,000 American troops were being considered for deployment to the Middle East last week, to boost the already significant military presence in the Gulf region, giving Trump additional military options.
The potential reinforcement would add to the nearly 5,000 Marines and sailors and roughly 2,000 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division already deployed.
The 82nd Airborne Division, a premier rapid-response unit, is frequently placed on high alert due to its ability to deploy quickly to global hotspots, making it a key asset in emerging conflicts.
It was not clear where the troops would land as joint airstrikes have targeted both the capital of Tehran and other military infrastructure closer to the gulf, including Kharg Island.
American presence on Kharg Island – Iran’s primary oil export hub – would stop the regime from making money on oil production while also stopping Tehran from targeting the critical infrastructure, Former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas said.
“It’s like taking a chess piece off Iran’s board and putting another bargaining chip in your pocket,” he said.
Trump warned Islamic Republic officials on Thursday to “get serious soon” about negotiating an end to the war “before it’s too late.”
“The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange,’” the president posted on Truth Social. “They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal.’ WRONG!!!
“They better get serious soon, before it is too late,” Trump added, “because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!”
