Media: US weighs ground operation on Iran’s Kharg Island

Senior US officials are reportedly considering a ground military operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island as tensions escalate in the Persian Gulf, The Jerusalem Post reports.

Two sources familiar with the matter said Washington has informed Israel and other partners that there may be no alternative but to occupy the island, which serves as Iran’s primary hub for oil exports, with 90% of its crude shipped to China. Discussions within the US administration have centered on whether controlling the island is necessary to compel Tehran to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

A US official confirmed that “the US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East.” The deployment includes the USS Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group, consisting of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer – functioning as a light aircraft carrier – alongside the amphibious transport docks USS Portland and USS Comstock. Together, the three vessels carry approximately 4,500 Marines and additional combat personnel.

About ten days ago, the United States struck military targets on Kharg Island. Following the operation, President Donald Trump tweeted: “We have destroyed all military targets on the island.” He added that he had chosen not to dismantle the island’s oil infrastructure at the time but warned, “If Iran thwarts movement in the Strait of Hormuz, I will reconsider.”

On March 21, Trump further threatened Iran, stating that if the blockade persists, US forces would target Iranian power plants.

Given Iran’s defiant stance, US officials consider it unlikely the naval blockade will be lifted voluntarily. Current planning assumes that a military operation may be required to guarantee freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime routes.

By Vafa Guliyeva