President Donald Trump on Tuesday raised the possibility of a ground operation as the conflict with Iran continues to escalate, but he did not provide specific details about what such an operation would involve.
“I don’t want to do that,” Trump said when asked about a potential ground war with Iran in an interview with Fox News.
“Sometimes you need a ground operation, but we have other people who would carry out the ground operation for us,” Trump said, without indicating who those forces might be.
Analysts told CNN that possible locations for a ground operation could include Kharg Island — Iran’s main oil export terminal or the country’s southern coastline along the Persian Gulf.
However, whether carried out by U.S. forces or troops from another country, landing on Iranian shores — and deploying enough forces to maintain a sustained presence — would represent a highly complex and dangerous military operation.
Amphibious operations require specific conditions on land and at sea for a successful landing, meaning defenders can concentrate forces in areas where an attack is most likely to occur.
Landing routes can be mined or blocked with obstacles. Modern weapons, including drones and loitering munitions, as well as traditional artillery, mortars, and small arms, could then be used against forces attempting to establish a foothold.
Analysts also emphasize that the logistics required to support landed troops with ammunition, medical supplies, food, and water make supply ships vulnerable to the same weapons systems facing the invading force.
“The balance of warfare in coastal areas has shifted significantly in favor of the defender,” wrote U.S. Army Captain Daniel S. Hogestyn in the May–June issue of Military Review.
U.S. Forces in the Region
According to U.S. Department of Defense media materials, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) — typically consisting of more than 2,000 troops is currently deployed in the region aboard ships of the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group.
MEUs are commonly used for missions such as evacuations and amphibious operations involving movement from ship to shore, including raids and assault missions. They include ground and aviation combat elements, and some units are trained for special operations.
In addition, the 82nd Airborne Division’s Immediate Response Force can reportedly be deployed within hours for missions such as securing ports or airports.
A potential ground operation in Iran would therefore involve major strategic, logistical, and military challenges, with significant risks for any forces attempting to establish a presence on Iranian territory.
