The Pentagon is gearing up for weeks of potential ground operations in Iran, with thousands of American soldiers and Marines already deployed to the Middle East as President Donald Trump mulls a critical escalation in the ongoing conflict.
U.S. officials revealed plans for limited missions that would stop short of a full-scale invasion, focusing instead on targeted raids by Special Operations forces and conventional infantry. Key objectives under consideration include seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, and conducting strikes on coastal military sites near the Strait of Hormuz to neutralize threats to commercial and military shipping. One official estimated the timeline for such operations at “weeks, not months,” while another suggested it could stretch to a couple of months.
The risks are stark. U.S. personnel could face Iranian drones, missiles, ground fire, and improvised explosives. Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, cautioned against prolonged troop presence on Kharg Island, citing Iran’s capacity to “rain down drones and maybe artillery.” He advocated for agile, in-and-out raids to clear coastal threats as a safer alternative.
Recent weeks have seen the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising about 2,200 sailors and Marines, ordered to the region. While equipped for such missions, logistical constraints limit how long they can sustain operations without additional supplies, according to a retired senior military officer. Protecting forces on seized territory like Kharg Island poses a significant challenge, with a former defense official noting that while taking the island is feasible, “protecting your guys once they are there” is the tougher task.
Trump’s stance remains ambiguous. On March 20, he told reporters in the Oval Office, “I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops.” Yet White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that Trump is “prepared to unleash hell” if Iran persists with nuclear ambitions and threats against the U.S. and its allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in France on Friday, downplayed the prospect of extended conflict, asserting the U.S. can achieve its goals without ground troops.
Casualties are already mounting. In the past month, 13 U.S. troops have been killed, including six in a plane crash in Iraq, six in a drone attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait, and one at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Over 300 service members have been wounded in retaliatory Iranian drone and missile strikes across seven Middle Eastern countries, with at least 10 sustaining serious injuries.
Public and political opposition is significant. A recent poll by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center found 62% of Americans strongly oppose deploying ground troops in Iran, with only 12% in favor. In Congress, Republican lawmakers are divided, with Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, a retired Navy SEAL, firmly against the move, stating, “The answer is no.” Conversely, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina urged seizing Kharg Island, controversially comparing it to the U.S. capture of Iwo Jima in World War II.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains a flashpoint. Any disruption from these potential operations could send shockwaves through energy markets, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps expected to fiercely defend key infrastructure.
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