WP: The US ground operation in Iran will take a couple of months
The United States is preparing for a ground operation in Iran, the duration of which may range from several weeks to a couple of months, according to The Washington Post. According to the publication, the "extremely secret military plans" of the US military are extensive: it is planned to capture the island of Kharq and conduct raids in the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. Experts believe that the "biggest problem" for the United States will be protecting its soldiers from Iranian drones and missiles. Tehran has already declared its readiness to fight back against the American troops.
The United States is preparing for a ground operation against Iran that will last "several weeks" or "a couple of months," The Washington Post (WP) reports, citing sources.
— the publication says.
According to the newspaper, any potential ground operation would not be a full-scale invasion. It is assumed that the Pentagon will conduct Special operations raids and deploy infantry units to find and destroy weapons capable of hitting ships.
The journalists found out that over the past month, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been discussing the possibility of seizing the island of Kharq in the Persian Gulf, where Iran's largest oil terminal is located, and conducting raids in the coastal areas of the Strait of Hormuz. According to WP, the seizure of Iranian territory will put Tehran in an "awkward position and provide "valuable trump cards" for future negotiations.
One of the former Pentagon officials stressed that the "extremely secret military plans" of the US military are "extensive" and were not being prepared for their implementation "at the last minute." Meanwhile, the interlocutors of the publication drew attention to the fact that the United States may face the "biggest problem" — the protection of its troops who will hold Iranian territory.
It is unknown whether Trump will approve all the plans or just one. The publication admitted that the head of the White House would not accept them, because "such a mission could expose the American contingent to many threats," including Iranian drones and missiles.
— commented White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.
However, Trump is "ready to unleash hell" on Iran if Tehran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions and stop threatening the United States and its allies, she warned.
The day before, the Central Command of the US Armed Forces announced that almost 3,500 marines and sailors, as well as transport and strike fighter aircraft, amphibious assault and tactical equipment, had already arrived in the Middle East. According to The Wall Street Journal, a ground operation in Iran may begin "in the near future."
"Iran is waiting for American soldiers"
Against this background, the Chairman of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the United States of hypocrisy. He noted that Washington openly transmits messages about negotiations to Tehran, but is secretly preparing a ground operation.
He does not know that our people are waiting for the arrival of American soldiers on our land in order to open fire on them and punish their comrades in the region forever," the Iranian state Television and Radio company quoted Ghalibaf as saying.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stressed that the consequences of the US and Israeli military operation against Iran will have a long-term impact on the situation in the region and the global economy.
"We are now seeing the extremely disastrous consequences of this war for the global economy and for regional geopolitics. These consequences probably won't be short—term, they will have a long-term effect," Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS .
The Kremlin's official representative recommended "just be patient and continue to see exactly what the consequences will be."
The United States, together with Israel, launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the attack by the need to neutralize the "existential threat" associated with Tehran's nuclear developments. In response, the Islamic Republic launches rocket and drone strikes against Israel, as well as American bases in the Middle East.
Mikhail Sinev
