Pentagon's Preparations#
Pentagon officials are making detailed plans for the potential deployment of U.S. ground forces in Iran, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. This comes as President Trump considers options in the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran.
Military Command Requests#
Senior military commanders have submitted specific requests to prepare for the possibility of deploying troops. However, it remains unclear under what conditions President Trump would authorize such a move. Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity indicated that these discussions are still in the planning stages.
White House Statement#
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that while the Pentagon is preparing various options, this does not mean a decision has been made to send troops. She emphasized that the President is not planning to deploy ground forces at this time, as stated in a recent Oval Office meeting.
Troop Movements in the Region#
The U.S. military is also preparing to send elements of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. This includes the Army’s Global Response Force and the Marine Corps’ Marine Expeditionary Unit. Recently, around 2,200 Marines from an expeditionary unit departed California for the region, marking the second such deployment since the conflict escalated. The first Marine unit is still en route from the Pacific and is expected to arrive in a few weeks.