US President Donald Trump’s administration is considering deploying thousands of troops to the Middle East as part of the ongoing military campaign against Iran. According to a US official and other sources cited by Reuters, the move could expand Washington’s options in a conflict now entering its third week.
One option under discussion is securing the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which would require additional air and naval deployments. Sources also say the possible use of ground forces on or near the Iranian coast is being examined.
Officials have also discussed sending forces to Kharg Island, the hub for around 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports. The US military struck targets on the island on 13 March. Military experts say control of the site could offer greater strategic value than its destruction.
The possibility of securing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is also being considered, although experts caution that such an operation would be difficult and carry significant risks.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, said no decision had yet been taken on the deployment of ground forces. Trump is keeping all options open, officials said.
‘The president is focused on achieving all of the defined goals of Operation Epic Fury: destroying Iran’s ballistic missiles, destroying their navy, ensuring that their terrorist allies cannot destabilize the region, and guaranteeing that Iran will never have nuclear weapons,’ the source told Reuters.
Officials added that discussions on US reinforcements go beyond the expected arrival next week of a combat-ready airborne group in the region, accompanied by a Marine expeditionary force including more than 2,000 Marines.
Any deployment of US ground troops – even for a limited mission – could carry significant political risks for Trump, some officials say, given limited public support for the campaign against Iran and his earlier pledges to avoid new military entanglements in the Middle East.
Reported casualty figures
Since the conflict began on 28 February, the US has carried out more than 7,800 strikes on targets in Iran, according to Reuters. The war has also resulted in US casualties, with 13 soldiers killed and around 200 injured, and has disrupted oil supplies.
The human rights monitoring group HRANA said on Tuesday that 3,114 people had been killed in Iran, including 1,354 civilians and 207 children.
According to Lebanese authorities, at least 968 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since 2 March. Figures cited by international organisations indicate that more than 100 of the victims were children. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.
(reuters, max)