The Donald Trump administration is making full-scale preparations for the potential deployment of US ground troops to Iran, according to multiple media reports.
While President Trump has previously stated, “We will not be sending any soldiers (ground troops) anywhere,” recent movements suggest military leaders are positioning forces in case he changes course. This comes as the ongoing “Epic Fury” military operation against Iran, now in its fourth week, continues to escalate, giving Trump additional military options.
CBS news, citing multiple sources reported that senior US military commanders are planning for the possibility of troop deployment, with Trump reviewing whether to send forces. Meetings have been held to discuss how to handle Iranian soldiers and paramilitary personnel, as well as civilian evacuation, if ground troops are deployed.
Marines and 82nd Airborne Poised for Deployment
The 82nd Airborne Division, based in North Carolina and specializing in ground combat and special missions, is preparing for potential deployment to the Middle East. The division’s “Immediate Response Force (IRF)” played a key role in the elimination of Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Approximately 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed in Okinawa, Japan, are moving to the region, while 2,200 Marines and three warships from California have also departed.
Reuters noted, “This additional deployment will add to the 50,000 U.S. troops already stationed in the Middle East. This could result in two Marine expeditionary units being deployed to the region.”
The newly deployed Marines could be used for air strikes from ships, ground operations, securing the Strait of Hormuz, or occupying Kharg Island, a hub for Iran’s oil exports.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said, “It is the Department of Defense’s mission to prepare to provide the commander-in-chief with maximum options, but this does not mean the president has made a decision.”
Political Risks and Strategic Goals
President Trump has emphasized that recovering highly enriched uranium and eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities may eventually require ground operations. However, deploying US troops could trigger significant backlash from MAGA supporters, who are wary of foreign military interventions.
This would also contradict Trump’s past criticism of former presidents for getting the U.S. “stuck in the Middle East quagmire,” creating political risks. A recent Reuters-Ipsos poll found that only 7% of Americans supported a large-scale ground attack. Reuters added, “The use of ground troops could pose significant political risks for Trump.”
US Diplomatic Facility in Flames
Meanwhile, a fire broke out at a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport in Iraq, according to security sources quoted by Reuters. A pro-Iranian militant group, Ashab al-Kahf, later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Visuals shared online showed a large and intense blaze, with thick black smoke rising into the night sky.
Earlier, the Middle East Broadcasting Network reported that air defense systems were activated over the U.S. embassy to intercept incoming threats.
On Wednesday, Kataib Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, announced a temporary five-day suspension of its attacks on the embassy, conditional on “a US commitment not to strike residential areas in Baghdad and other provinces,” according to the report.
Kataib Hezbollah and the Harakat al-Nujaba movement are among the main Iran-aligned groups targeting US interests. Both have participated in the ongoing conflict alongside Iran and carried out multiple strikes in Iraq and other regions.
Iraq has become involved in the wider regional conflict following the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28. Since then, Iran-backed groups have launched frequent attacks on U.S.-linked sites in Iraq and across the region. On Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed for the first time that combat helicopters were used to strike pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq during the ongoing conflict.
