Pentagon preparing for “weeks long” ground operation in Iran, sources say – National & International News – MON 30Mar2026
Pentagon preparing for “weeks long” ground operation in Iran, sources say
Over 7000 elite troops have arrived in the Middle East in recent days, including members of the 82nd Airborne as well as Expeditionary Force Marines. They join 50,000 US troops that have already been stationed throughout the region. Despite statements from the White House indicating they are talking with high-ranking members of Iran’s government, the Pentagon is said to be planning for a range of options, including a boots-on-the-ground invasion of Iran. Sources told the Washington Post that the operation would stop short of a “full-scale” invasion, but they expect any incursion to last weeks, or perhaps up to two months. As of Saturday, there was no indication that President Trump had yet authorized a mission.
It’s also unclear what the mission will be. Reports suggest several possibilities: an invasion of Kharg Island or other strategically important islands in the Persian Gulf; invading to secure the coast to prevent Iran from targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz; or perhaps even a raid deep into Iranian territory to attempt to seize highly-enriched uranium. Any of these operations would put US servicemembers in extreme danger. Before they ever reach Iranian soil, they will have to contend with Iran’s antiship missiles as they transit the Gulf. They will also be within easy reach of Iran’s highly effective drones. Iran has been preparing and bolstering defenses for months in anticipation of such a campaign.
In a TruthSocial post on Monday, President Trump threatened to bomb several civilian infrastructure targets – including electricity plants, oil wells, and water desalination facilities – if the Strait of Hormuz was not “immediately ‘Open for Business,'”. If the US were to target any such facilities, the Iranians would likely do the same to equally important and vulnerable infrastructure in the surrounding Gulf states.
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