US Deployments Fuel Speculation of Ground Combat Against Iran
U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a simulated reconnaissance and surveillance mission as part of a simulated amphibious assault at a naval support facility in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on March 24, 2026. Handout photo by Lance Cpl. Victor Gurrol/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images
U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a simulated reconnaissance and surveillance mission as part of a simulated amphibious assault at a naval support facility in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on March 24, 2026. Handout photo by Lance Cpl. Victor Gurrol/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images
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US Deployments Fuel Speculation of Ground Combat Against Iran

Thousands of U.S. Marines and Army paratroopers in the Middle East would boost the president’s military options against Iran, but there are risks.
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By Ryan Morgan
Updated:

The U.S. military has deployed several thousand additional infantry troops to the Middle East in recent weeks, raising speculation of imminent ground combat in the conflict with Iran.

Military analysts have proposed a handful of potential missions for U.S. ground forces, including seizing key territory in the Persian Gulf or mounting a raid deep into Iran.

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