The Pentagon is preparing for several weeks of ground operations in Iran, according to a Washington Post report citing US officials. As part of the preparations, thousands of US Navy and Marine troops have arrived in the Middle East. The USS Tripoli has reached its designated area of responsibility, the US Central Command confirmed. However, it remains uncertain whether President Donald Trump will approve the deployment of ground forces, and the exact locations of troop positions have not been disclosed.

The report indicates that the planned operations would not constitute a full-scale invasion but rather a series of coordinated missions involving special operations units and conventional infantry forces. More than 4,000 US Marines are believed to be aboard ships heading toward the Gulf, and discussions are ongoing about sending additional troops.

The White House and Pentagon have not commented on the matter despite inquiries from the BBC, leaving the timeline and scope of the potential operations unclear.