Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran

[vanessa_ca]

Source: Washington Post

If President Donald Trump approves the plans, such an effort would mark a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks.
41 minutes ago

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war should President Donald Trump choose to escalate.

Any potential ground operation would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could instead involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, said the officials. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss highly sensitive military plans that have been in development for weeks.

Such a mission could expose U.S. personnel to an array of threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives. It was unclear Saturday whether Trump would approve all, some or none of the Pentagon’s plans.

The Trump administration in recent days has vacillated between declaring that the war is winding down and threatening to amplify it. While the president has signaled a desire to negotiate an end to the conflict, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Tuesday that if the regime in Tehran does not end its nuclear ambitions and cease its threats against the United States and its allies, Trump is “prepared to unleash hell” against them.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/

[Deuxcents]

1. This is madness! The inconsistency of the explanations for this says we're not getting out any time soon

[vanessa_ca]

4. Vance disagrees. Says we'll be out "soon"

JD Vance on Iran: 'We're Taking Care of Business, We're Going to Be Out of There Soon, and Gas Prices Are Going to Come Back Down'

'They're still trying to build a nuclear weapon, we need to neuter them for a very very long time and that's the purpose,' JD Vance said on a podcast interview. His remarks come as Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi forces confirmed they have launched a missile at Israel early on Saturday

Haaretz
07:57 PM • March 28 2026 IDT
-snip-

Vance said, "The president says look, we've accomplished the gross majority of our military objectives, I think you could make a good argument that we've accomplished all of our military objectives, the president's going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that, once we leave, we don't have to do this again for a very very long time."

"The president has been very clear about this: we are not interested in being in Iran a year down the road, two years down the road. We're taking care of business, we're going to be out of there soon, and gas prices are going to come back down," he continued.

-snip-

He assured that gas prices "are going to go down," and they are a "very very temporary reaction to is ultimately going to be a short-term conflict."

Vance's remarks come as Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi forces confirmed they have launched a missile at Israel early on Saturday after threatening to act if an escalation against Iran and the 'axis of resistance' continued. No casualties have been reported as a result of the attack, Israeli authorities said.

-snip-

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-03-28/ty-article/.premium/vance-on-iran-were-taking-care-of-business-were-going-be-out-of-there-soon/0000019d-34fd-de07-a9fd-b7ff56b10000

[Bread and Circuses]

10. JD is not in the loop, he's sent out to sound vice presidential , while Stephen Miller calls the shots

[LudwigPastorius]

25. "...we've accomplished the gross majority of our military objectives."

Those clowns obviously don't know the difference between tactical and strategic objectives.

[ananda]

26. He lies with more clarity and strength than Trump does

Grrr

[littlemissmartypants]

14. Unauthorized by congress madness.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Is there any doubt? All the pieces are in place already.

Ridiculous article.

[yourout]

3. Hope they have a good supply of body bags...

?si=NmSz49T5L-IbVkBQ

[vanessa_ca]

9. Warning order to USMC Reservists was sent

What a nightmare

Link to tweet

[IronLionZion]

15. It's disgusting to see them talk about readiness

When they did not prepare for any of this.

[Journeyman]

5. In its war against Iraq in the '80s, Iran used children (as young as 9) as frontline troops . . .

wait until our troops face young kids in pitched battle. There's not much that'll spare you from your memories of shooting 9-year-olds in the face.

[sakabatou]

6. Weeks... which will probably turn into years

Unless TACO.

[usonian]

7. Iranistan? Afghaniran? YUCK!

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Is there really nothing we can do for 90 days?

Frankly, if I were a Republican in the House, I would step down and walk away to water down the Republican power and give the Democrats a chance to stop Trump before it's too late.

[Wednesdays]

11. Weeks?

Weeks?



WEEKS??



Try 20 YEARS. Like Afghanistan.

Although it's really nothing to laugh about.

[Dixiegrrrl]

21. 1955 to 1975 for Viet Nam

We were in it from about '63 to Fall of Saigon in '75. Over 3 million deaths, forced Johnson into a one term Presidency and Nixon to resign for lying about it.Not to mention over 58,000 American casualties, out of over 3 million total.

If demented Don thinks No Kings was a huge protest, he's in for a surprise.This country hasn't forgotten.

[Dan]

12. In a war against a nation of approximately 100 million people.

We truly are led by fool.

Win, what the hell is winning and how many are we prepared to kill, to what end?

If they don't have nuclear capability now - they will! Wouldn't you given what has occurred. Ukraine gave up their nuclear arms because of the U.S. guarantee of their security. How can the U.S. be trusted in the age of Trump and Post-Trump.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. FUCKING INSANITY!!!

[IronLionZion]

16. He could declare victory and order everyone to leave as impulsively as he ordered them in

Not much planning went into this war.

[ShazamIam]

17. Trump is sending our troops to be slaughtered. RESIST! He is so f***ing dumb he has no idea what will happen.

[vanessa_ca]

19. I feel so sorry for them

What makes me really angry is that their elected officials don’t seem to care enough to do anything to protect them from this madness.

[Intractable]

20. He thinks it will cause a terrorist attack in the US. Once that happens, like 9-11, we'll all follow the leader.

Not this time!

[Prairie Gates]

18. Watching this goofy Sicilian Expedition unfolding

It's gonna be a fucking catastrophe.

[Grins]

22. Planning? It's all HIS whims! Show me the logistics...

…on supporting 3,500 Marines and 7,000 Army airborne almost 8,000 miles away with no trustworthy base of support, no armor, PC’s, aviation, signal, etc, - then tell me how you are going to get them out.

More - tell me the SPECIFIC objective, and define “winning,” and then answer the question: “and then what?” After you have laid waste to everything - and then what?

[PSPS]

23. "It was unclear Saturday whether Trump would approve all, some or none of the Pentagon's plans."

It all depends on how much attention is being paid to the epstein files at any particular moment.

[LudwigPastorius]

24. IMO, Trump is more likely to TACO out then send troops.

A ground invasion all depends on how much he's talking to Belligerent Bibi.

[AmethystMoon2025]

27. Totally agree

This will turn into Trump's Vietnam.

[usonian]

28. Vote: Iranistan or Afghaniran

Iran is laying mines because Epstein and Trump laid minors. NEVER FORGET THIS.

[SamKnause]

29. This is fucking insanity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The MAGA republican party should never hold any public office again.

They are evil to the core and they don't care how many people die because of their actions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NickB79]

30. US troops are gonna get first hand experience with drone warfare

Like Russia and Ukraine have been waging.

4K videos of US troops being hunted down and blown up by suicide drones will be all over the Internet.