Pentagon weighs ground operation in Iran as more troops head to Middle East: report

The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for a potential weeks-long ground operation in Iran that could involve thousands of US service members.

Over the weekend, the USS Tripoli moved into the region carrying roughly 3,500 personnel, including about 2,500 Marines. Officials say that if an operation is ordered to seize oil facilities or secure enriched uranium, both conventional and special operations forces would likely be used. 

According to a report by The Washington Post, military planning is focused on limited raids rather than a full-scale invasion. Those operations would involve a mix of conventional and special forces and could last weeks, though one official suggested the timeline could extend to a couple of months.

The Trump administration has been unclear whether it is planning to increase activity in the region or seek an end. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last week, “I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops.” 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the military preparations do not indicate a final decision. However, she warned that if Iran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions, Trump is “prepared to unleash hell.”

“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,” Leavitt told the outlet in a statement.

Officials have also discussed the seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export terminal, as well as coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to destroy weapons used to target commercial and military shipping.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Friday that the Iran war is “not going to be a prolonged conflict.” He indicated that the operation is ahead of schedule and that the US “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops.” Meanwhile, multiple outlets have reported that the Pentagon is considering sending 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East as the operation continues. 

13 US troops have been killed in action since the start of the conflict, including six in a plane crash in Iraq, six in a drone attack in Kuwait, and one after an attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia. Over 300 service members have been wounded by drone and missile attacks that targeted US facilities in at least seven countries.