Pentagon preparing for ground operations in Iran, says report

 Any ground operation would avoid a full-scale invasion, relying instead on raids by special forces and conventional infantry, The Washington Post reported.

US troop build-up in the Middle East in recent days is raising the prospect of a ground deployment. (Centcom pic)

WASHINGTON:

 The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran — potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz — though President Donald Trump has not yet approved any deployment, The Washington Post reported on Saturday.

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.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Friday the United States “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops,” but the Post said planning is advanced, with one official saying: “This is not last-minute planning.” - FMT