Pentagon Plans for Potential Ground Operations in Iran
The Pentagon has developed advanced plans for weeks-long ground operations in Iran, though President Donald Trump has yet to approve any deployment, according to a report from The Washington Post.
The proposed strategy stops short of a full-scale invasion, focusing instead on targeted raids by Special Operations forces and conventional infantry to degrade Iranian military capabilities.
The primary objectives under consideration include seizing Kharg Island—a critical oil export hub that handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude exports—and conducting raids on coastal military sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
These missions are designed to locate and destroy weapons systems, such as drones and missiles, that currently threaten commercial and military shipping.
Officials estimate these operations could take between several weeks and two months to complete.
Military leaders have warned that this phase of the conflict would be significantly more dangerous than the initial airstrikes.
Ground troops would face direct threats from Iranian drone swarms, missile strikes, and entrenched IRGC forces using improvised explosives.
While the Pentagon aims to provide the Commander in Chief with maximum optionality, Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Friday that the U.S. hopes to achieve its goals without the use of ground troops.
