Pentagon ‘preparing for ground operations’ in Iran

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The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, even as Donald Trump publicly pushes for peace talks. Officials told the Washington Post this could involve targeted missions by special forces and regular troops. Sending in the military to try to seize Kharg Island or reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be highly dangerous, potentially fruitless and deeply unpopular. More than 60% of Americans strongly oppose ground troops in Iran, which has promised to “rain fire” on any soldiers entering its territory. Roughly 8,000 paratroopers and US marines have been deployed to the Middle East so far, with roughly 50,000 military personnel already at bases in the region. Earlier this month, the Republican senator Lindsey Graham encouraged Trump to seize Kharg Island by invoking the battle of Iwo Jima. That led to the death of 21,000 people, including 7,000 members of the US military.