Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran: Report
Officials said any potential ground operation would not amount to a full-scale invasion and could instead involve raids by a mix of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry units, according to the post. All participants spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss highly sensitive military plans that have been in development for weeks.
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“Such a mission would expose U.S. personnel to a range of threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosive devices. It was unclear Saturday whether Trump would approve all or part of the Pentagon’s plans.”
Talks within the administration last month touched on Iran’s possible seizure of Kharg Island, a major oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, and raids on other coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to find and destroy weapons that could target commercial and military shipping, officials said. One person said those goals would likely take “weeks, not months” to complete, according to the report. Another put the potential timeline at “a few months.”
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The Trump administration has wavered in recent days between saying the conflict is easing and warning of escalation. While the US president has expressed interest in negotiating a deal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that Trump is “ready to unleash hell” on Tehran’s leadership if it does not abandon its nuclear program and stop threatening the US and its allies.
