The Pentagon is preparing for ground operations in Iran that could last several weeks, according to U.S. officials, as thousands of American Marines and sailors flow into the Middle East for what could become a more dangerous phase of the war if President Donald Trump decides to escalate.
Pentagon Plans Limited Raids
The planning, first reported Saturday by The Washington Post, comes as the conflict stretches into its fifth week and the administration sends fresh forces into the region. The Post said any operation under consideration would stop short of a full-scale invasion and could instead rely on raids by Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to questions about the report, said, “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision.”
Kharg Island, Strait Missions Under Active Review
Officials cited by The Post said internal discussions over the past month have included the possible seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Gulf, and raids on coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to destroy weapons threatening commercial and military shipping. One person said the objectives would likely take “weeks, not months,” while another estimated “a couple of months.”
Iran Warns Retaliation As U.S. Forces Build
Iran has answered with public warnings. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, accused Washington of quietly preparing a ground invasion while publicly pursuing diplomacy, and warned Iranian forces were ready to respond if U.S. troops entered the region. On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Iran analyst Karim Sadjadpour said on Sunday he did not see “any possibility of a resolution to this conflict” outside a negotiated settlement.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, U.S. Central Command said about 3,500 additional personnel arrived in the region aboard the USS Tripoli. CENTCOM said the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit entered its area of responsibility on March 27 with transport and strike fighter aircraft and other amphibious and tactical assets.
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