US Considering Deployment of Troops to Iran

US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to deploying ground troops in Iran, but experts predict a targeted special operations approach over an invasion.

In a recent statement, Trump stated that he does not rule out sending US “boots on the ground” to Iran, contradicting a longstanding presidential taboo. However, military analysts believe that the reality of a potential conflict would differ significantly from a traditional invasion.

Colonel Nidal Abu Zeid, a military and strategic analyst, told The New York Post that it is unlikely the US is considering a large-scale ground invasion involving tanks and infantry. Instead, Abu Zeid suggests that the US may employ a “pick-up” or selective operations approach, which involves limited special forces efforts to execute precise sabotage or intelligence-gathering missions.

Abu Zeid notes that Iran’s complex geopolitical environment, rugged geography, and demographic density provide Tehran with a defensive advantage, making a traditional invasion impractical. He also cites Israel’s previous declaration of a ground operation in Iran as being impractical.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has confirmed that no US troops are currently inside Iran, but left the option open for future deployment. Trump revealed that the decision to launch joint US-Israeli strikes came after “final talks” in Geneva collapsed on Thursday, citing intelligence showing Iran had moved its nuclear enrichment programme to a new site.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” has reportedly been successful, with the primary objective of eliminating the leadership structure achieved in a single day. However, Abu Zeid points out that Trump’s initial estimate of a four-week timeline is tied to US domestic law, which restricts the president’s authority to wage war beyond 30 days without Congressional approval.

The conflict has resulted in at least six US service members killed in action and Iran claiming to have fired cruise missiles at the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Abu Zeid dismisses this claim as media propaganda, stating that the carrier is protected by advanced defensive systems.

Source: Al Jazeera