Pentagon Studies Plan for Ground Operation in Iran Targeting Kharg Island and Strait of Hormuz

Media sources, quoting US administration officials, revealed that the Department of Defense is finalizing plans for a potential ground operation targeting the Iranian interior. These plans primarily focus on seizing the strategic Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, which would give Washington immense economic and military leverage.

Military estimates indicate that this operation would not take the form of a full-scale invasion, but rather a time-limited intervention that could extend for two months. The proposed strategy relies on integrating elite special forces units with infantry brigades to carry out precise and rapid missions to paralyze Iranian defensive capabilities in coastal areas.

The anticipated military move aims to neutralize Iranian threats to international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington seeks to destroy missile systems and weapons that threaten oil tankers. Kharg Island is considered a vital target as it is the outlet for more than 90% of Iranian oil exports, and controlling it would mean cutting off Tehran's financial lifeline.

For her part, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the Pentagon is fulfilling its professional role in presenting all available military options to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Leavitt clarified that the existence of these plans on the discussion table does not mean that President Donald Trump has given the green light for implementation, but rather falls within the framework of preparing for all scenarios.

In a related context, President Trump kept the door open to all possibilities, indicating in previous statements that he prefers the element of surprise in dealing with such sensitive issues. Trump affirmed that if he decides to take the step of ground intervention, he will not announce it in advance, which increases the strategic ambiguity surrounding US movements in the region.

On the diplomatic front, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to calm allies' concerns during G7 meetings, affirming that Washington is not currently seeking a large-scale ground operation. However, these statements contradict the field movements represented by the arrival of the assault ship 'USS Tripoli' and the reinforcement of US forces with thousands of additional troops in the Middle East.

These plans face significant field challenges and risks, which military reports have warned about, especially regarding the safety of US soldiers in the face of Iranian coastal defenses. These developments come at a time when there is increasing talk of a widespread strike that may precede any announcement of a political victory, with the task of securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz left to the international community at a later stage.

The ongoing preparations do not necessarily mean that the President has made a final decision on military ground action.