Pentagon gears up for weeks-long ground operations in Iran: Report
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New York: The Pentagon is readying for weeks of targeted ground operations in Iran as thousands of US troops pour into the Middle East, potentially igniting a volatile new front if President Donald Trump opts to escalate, The Washington Post reported.
Officials, speaking anonymously, described limited raids blending Special Operations forces and conventional infantry—far from a full invasion—but fraught with risks like Iranian drones, missiles, ground fire, and IEDs.
The Trump administration has swung between signaling a wind-down and escalation threats. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted Friday that "we can achieve all objectives without ground troops," yet one official told the Post: "This is not last-minute planning."
CENTCOM confirmed a 3,500-strong Marine and sailor task force aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) entered its area Saturday. The America-class amphibious assault ship, flagship of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group/31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, packs transport/strike aircraft, amphibious vehicles, and tactical assets for sea strikes or rapid ground ops like securing sites or coastal assaults, per CENTCOM's X post and ynetnews.com.
This buildup fuels the US-Iran war's intensity.
(Inputs from IANS)