WP: Pentagon readies US troops for possible ground missions in Iran

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines deploy to the Middle East, as announced by The Washington Post (WP). 

The move could mark a dangerous new phase of the war if President Donald Trump decides to escalate, the WP added.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the plans, said any potential ground operation would likely fall short of a full-scale invasion. Instead, it could involve targeted raids combining Special Operations forces with conventional infantry.

Such missions could expose U.S. troops to multiple threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, small arms fire, and improvised explosive devices. It remains unclear whether Trump will approve all, part, or none of the Pentagon’s proposed operations.

The Trump administration has sent mixed signals in recent days, alternating between statements that the war is winding down and warnings of escalation. While the president has expressed interest in negotiating an end to the conflict, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned that if Tehran does not halt its nuclear ambitions and threats against the U.S. and its allies, Trump is “prepared to unleash hell” against the regime.

Earlier today, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, said that Iran was aware that the United States is secretly planning a ground invasion in Iran. He threatened that Iranian troops would "set American soldiers ablaze" if they attempted an invasion and "permanently punish" the US partners in the Middle East.