With the Iran War now moving into its second month, reports say thousands of US soldiers and Marines have been deployed to the Middle East amid concerns the conflict could intensify.
Blasts were reported across Iran on February 28 after Israel and the US carried out a coordinated wave of airstrikes in a joint operation the Trump administration called ‘Operation Epic Fury’.
Iran responded swiftly, and fighting between the three countries has continued with mounting casualties. In one of the latest incidents, Iranian strikes on a military base in Saudi Arabia reportedly left ten US service members injured.
Officials said the attack on Prince Sultan Air Base also caused damage to several US refuelling aircraft.
Those ten troops are included in a broader figure of around 300 American personnel reported injured since the conflict began.
While US action has largely consisted of aerial bombardment, the Department of War is now said to be preparing for possible ground-focused missions, with thousands of troops and Marines already arriving in the region.
Officials who spoke with The Washington Post suggested a full-scale invasion is not expected. Instead, planning is reportedly centered on ‘raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops’.
Despite speculation about a potential ground push, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has not yet reached a final call.
She told The Post:
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision.”
Earlier this week, she also said Trump was ‘prepared to unleash hell’ on Iran if it did not abandon its nuclear ambitions.
At present, Iran is not among the countries known to possess nuclear weapons.
The latest reports of possible escalation come after one official claimed the president was ‘bored’ with the war with Iran.
More to follow.