The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war should President Donald Trump choose to escalate. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss highly sensitive military plans that have been in development for weeks. Such a mission could expose U.S. personnel to an array of threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives. Axios and the Wall Street Journal also reported in recent days that the administration is considering deploying another 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East, supplementing those already in the region. Another former senior defense official familiar with the U.S. military’s plans for a ground campaign in Iran said they are extensive.

Source: Washington Post March 29, 2026 02:04 UTC