US braces for ‘weeks‘ of ground raids in Iran – WaPo

President Donald Trump has yet to approve any of the Department of War’s invasion plans, according to the Washington Post

The US Department of War is reportedly drafting plans for weeks of potential ground operations in Iran, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that Tehran has already lost the month-long war and is begging for a deal to surrender.

Any ground mission would not be a “full-scale invasion,” but rather limited raids by Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, several US officials who spoke with the Washington Post on condition of anonymity have insisted.

Potential objectives could include the seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, or raids into coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to destroy weapons capable of targeting commercial and military shipping.

President Trump has yet to approve any of the Department of War’s plans. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it is the Pentagon’s role to make preparations to provide the commander in chief with “maximum optionality.” 

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Earlier on Saturday, the US Central Command said the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship joined the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the region. The new reinforcements include around 3,500 US sailors and Marines with transport and strike aircraft, as well as amphibious assault assets.

Another US amphibious ready group – comprising the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock, and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland – is also reportedly moving to the region.

In the meantime, the Department of War is also deploying a third aircraft carrier group to the US Central Command’s area of responsibility to potentially join combat operations against Iran, according to CBS and CNN reports on Friday. Two carrier strike groups – led by the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln – spearheaded the US attack on Iran last month, until the Ford suffered an alleged “non-combat” fire aboard and retreated for repairs to Crete. It is unclear if the Bush will join or replace Ford.