US weighs Iran ground operation as 3,500 Marines arrive in region

ISLAMABAD: The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran, though President Donald Trump has not yet approved any deployment, AFP reported earlier this week, citing the Washington Post. 

There is no confirmed presence of US ground forces inside Iran at this stage. However, any ground operation would stop short of a full-scale invasion, instead involving raids by special operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the Post said, citing unnamed officials.

Troops on ground

AFP said Saturday the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli had arrived in the Middle East, citing US Central Command, with 3,500 Marines and sailors aboard, while an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are deploying.

The ship, which is usually based in Japan, arrived in the region on Friday, Centcom said in a post on X. The group also includes "transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets," it said.

The Council on Foreign Relations reports that the United States maintains a vast network of both temporary and permanent military installations in at least 19 locations throughout the region. Eight of them are said to be permanent bases spread among Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Troops already stationed in the region

Even before the latest escalation, the United States maintained a substantial military presence in the Middle East. According to Al Jazeera, between 40,000 and 50,000 troops are stationed across countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

While exact deployment locations have not been officially disclosed, US forces are believed to be stationed at key bases, including Al Udeid Air Base, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Camp Arifjan, and Al Dhafra Air Base, placing them within operational range of Iran.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington operates at least 19 military sites in the region, including 8 permanent bases.

Washington can achieve its objectives 'without ground troops'

As of now, Trump has not approved any deployment and has kept a vague stance on the issue for weeks. According to AFP, several US media outlets have reported that he is mulling the idea of sending at least 10,000 troops to the Middle East soon. 

The deployment would mark a significant boost to Washington's military presence in the region, despite US President Donald Trump insisting that Tehran was taking part in peace talks with Washington to end the war.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington can achieve its objectives “without ground troops,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth -- who revealed he had visited US troops in the Middle East over the weekend -- warned Tuesday that the coming days would be “decisive.” 

On the Iranian side, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said any deployment of US ground forces would mark a major escalation and would be met with widespread retaliation.

"It is unclear where precisely forces will go in the Middle East, but they will likely be within striking distance of Iran and Kharg Island, a crucial oil export hub off Iran’s coast," The Wall Street Journal said.

Middle East war 'far worse' than Iraq

According to The New York Times, the US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in 2003 had about 250,000 members at first, with Al Jazeera reporting that the Baghdad morgue estimated it received 6,000 corpses.

According to AFP, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on March 25 that the Middle East war presented a "far worse" scenario than the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something far worse. Much worse. With a potential impact that is far broader and far deeper," he told parliament.

"This time, it's an absurd and illegal war. A cruel one that sets us back from achieving our economic, social, and environmental goals."