CBS: U.S. Prepares For Ground Operation In Iran
- 20.03.2026, 23:12
The military has already held preparatory meetings.
The Pentagon is preparing to deploy US ground troops to Iran. Thousands of Marines are now being moved to the Middle East, RBC Ukraine reported, citing CBS News.
Sources said senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for such a scenario.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump is weighing his steps in the conflict with Iran. He is mulling whether to station ground troops in the region, and it is not yet clear under what circumstances he would allow their use.
What is known about US troop training
- No, I'm not sending troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you that," the publication quoted Trump as saying in the Oval Office on March 19.
CBS News reached out to U.S. Central Command for comment, and the question was forwarded to the White House and the Pentagon.
- The Pentagon's job is to make preparations to give the commander-in-chief as much leeway as possible; that doesn't mean the president has made a decision, and as he said in the Oval Office yesterday, he has no plans to send ground troops anywhere at this point," said White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt.
Two sources said the military has also held meetings to prepare for the possible detention of Iranian soldiers and paramilitary fighters if Trump does send U.S. soldiers.
CBS News writes that the U.S. is preparing to deploy units of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East region. The Army's Global Rapid Reaction Force and the Marine Expeditionary Unit Marine Corps are involved in the planning.
Thousands of Marines
Thousands of Marines
Thousands of Marines are being moved to the Middle East. Three warships and about 2,200 Marines from the expeditionary unit departed California earlier this week, according to two U.S. officials.
This is the second such Marine unit sent since the war began, and it could be weeks before it takes up its positions. The first unit was sent from the Pacific and is still en route to its destination.
The publication notes that the moves underscore the Pentagon's efforts to expand the military options available to the president.