Pentagon Weighs Limited Ground Operations in Iran: Report

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, March 29, 2026: The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for weeks-long limited ground operations in Iran, including potential raids on Kharg Island and coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz, as the Middle East conflict enters its fifth week, The Washington Post reported.

Citing unnamed US officials, the report said the plans may involve special operations forces and conventional infantry, though approval from US President Donald Trump remains uncertain. Any action would stop short of a full-scale invasion.

The proposed operations include possible seizure of Kharg Island—home to Iran’s largest oil terminal—and targeted raids to neutralise weapons threatening commercial and military shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Iran since the conflict escalated.

Officials indicated that such missions could last from a few weeks to a couple of months. A former senior defence official told the newspaper that the plans are extensive and have been “war-gamed,” adding that capturing strategic locations could provide leverage in future negotiations with Tehran.

However, the report noted that holding captured territory would pose significant challenges, particularly in ensuring the safety of deployed US forces.

Responding to the report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said military planning is routine and does not indicate a final decision by the President. She reiterated that while Trump prefers peace, he is prepared to escalate if Iran does not agree to end the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington could achieve its objectives without deploying ground troops, even as diplomatic signals from both sides remain unclear.

Meanwhile, the US has increased its military presence in the region, with 3,500 Marines and sailors arriving aboard the USS Tripoli, part of the largest American buildup in the Middle East in over two decades.