Pentagon Eyes Ground Operations Inside Iran

(MENAFN) The Pentagon is drawing up contingency plans for weeks of potential ground operations inside Iran, as thousands of US troops pour into the Middle East — all contingent on a final call from President Donald Trump, according to a media report published Saturday.

Citing anonymous officials, the Washington Post reported that the plans could signal "a new phase of the war" that may prove "significantly more dangerous" for American forces than the initial four weeks of combat.

Any ground incursion would stop well short of a full-scale invasion. Officials indicated the operations could involve raids by Special Operations units alongside conventional infantry — forces that would face exposure to "drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives," according to those briefed on the planning.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt moved swiftly to temper the report's implications. "It's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality," the Washington Post quoted her as saying. "It does not mean the President has made a decision."

Targets under consideration reportedly include Kharg Island — Iran's critical oil export terminal — and coastal raids near the Strait of Hormuz aimed at neutralizing threats to international shipping lanes.

Officials offered differing assessments of how long such missions might run, with some suggesting "weeks, not months," while others estimated "a couple of months."

The proposals appear to sit in tension with earlier statements from senior US officials. Trump previously declared, "I'm not putting troops anywhere," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted the conflict "is not going to be a prolonged conflict" and could achieve its objectives "without ground troops."

The human cost of the broader campaign is already mounting. Thirteen US troops have been killed and more than 300 wounded in regional attacks since hostilities broke out in late February, officials confirmed.

Domestic appetite for escalation remains low. A recent poll found 62% of Americans oppose deploying ground forces to Iran, with only 12% in favor.

Military analyst Michael Eisenstadt cautioned against underestimating the dangers of confined engagements, warning: "I just wouldn't want to be in that small place with Iran's ability to rain down drones." He stressed that tactical flexibility would be essential, adding, "Agility is part of your force protection."

The developments come amid a widening regional conflict that erupted on Feb. 28, when Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran. More than 1,300 people have since been killed, among them then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has responded with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military installations, inflicting casualties, damaging infrastructure, and sending shockwaves through global markets and international aviation corridors.

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