President Donald Trump’s administration is contemplating deploying hundreds of U.S. troops to strengthen its operation in West Asia, because the U.S. army prepares for doable subsequent steps in its marketing campaign towards Iran, stated a U.S. official and three individuals conversant in the matter.
The deployments might assist present Mr. Trump with extra choices as he weighs increasing U.S. operations, with the Iran battle nicely into its third week.
Iran-Israel battle updates on March 18, 2026
These choices embrace securing protected passage for oil tankers by the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that will be completed primarily by air and naval forces, the sources stated. However securing the Strait might additionally imply deploying U.S. troops to Iran’s shoreline, stated 4 sources, together with two U.S. officers.
Reuters granted the sources anonymity to discuss army planning.
The Trump administration has additionally mentioned choices to ship floor forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports, the three individuals conversant in the matter and three U.S. officers stated. One of many officers stated such an operation can be very dangerous. Iran has the power to succeed in the island with missiles and drones.
The USA carried out strikes towards army targets on the island on March 13 and Trump has threatened to additionally strike its important oil infrastructure. Nevertheless, given its important position in Iran’s economic system, controlling the island would probably be considered as a greater possibility than destroying it, army consultants say.
Any use of U.S. floor troops – even for a restricted mission – might pose important political dangers for Mr. Trump, given low assist among the many American public for the Iran marketing campaign and Mr. Trump’s personal marketing campaign guarantees to keep away from entangling the U.S. in new West Asia conflicts.
Trump administration officers have additionally mentioned the potential for deploying U.S. forces to safe Iran’s shares of extremely enriched uranium, one of many individuals conversant in the matter stated.
The sources didn’t imagine a deployment of floor forces anyplace in Iran was imminent however declined to debate specifics of U.S. operational planning. Consultants say the duty of securing Iran’s uranium stockpiles can be extremely advanced and dangerous, even for U.S. particular operations forces.
A White Home official, talking on situation of anonymity, stated: “There was no resolution to ship floor troops presently, however President Trump properly retains all choices at his disposal.
“The president is targeted on attaining all the outlined aims of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capability, annihilate their navy, guarantee their terrorist proxies can’t destabilize the area, and assure that Iran can by no means possess a nuclear weapon.”
The Pentagon declined to remark.
The discussions come because the U.S. army continues to assault Iran’s navy, its missile and drone stockpiles and its protection business.
The U.S. has carried out greater than 7,800 strikes since launching the battle on February 28 and broken or destroyed greater than 120 Iranian vessels up to now, based on a factsheet launched on Wednesday by the U.S. Central Command, which oversees the roughly 50,000 U.S. troops within the West Asia.
U.S. casualties
Mr. Trump has stated his targets transcend degrading Iran’s army capabilities and will embrace securing protected passage by the Strait and stopping Iran from growing a nuclear weapon.
Floor forces might assist broaden his choices to deal with these targets, however carry important danger. Even with none direct battle in Iran, 13 U.S. troops have been killed up to now within the battle and about 200 have been wounded, though the overwhelming majority of the accidents have been minor, the U.S. army says.
For years, Mr. Trump has railed towards his predecessors for getting concerned in conflicts and has vowed to maintain the US out of overseas wars. However extra just lately he has refused to rule out the potential for “boots on the bottom” in Iran.
A senior White Home official advised Reuters that Trump has varied choices for buying Iran’s nuclear materials however has not determined how one can proceed. “Actually there are methods during which it might be acquired,” the official stated, including: “He hasn’t decided but.”
In written testimony to lawmakers on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated Iran’s nuclear enrichment program had been obliterated by strikes in June and the entrances to these underground amenities had been “buried and shuttered with cement.”
The sources stated the discussions on U.S. reinforcements transcend the arrival of an Amphibious Prepared Group subsequent week within the West Asia, with an connected Marine Expeditionary Unit that features greater than 2,000 Marines.
However one of many sources famous that the U.S. army was dropping a big variety of forces with the choice to ship the usGerald R Ford plane provider to Greece for upkeep after a hearth on board the vessel.
Mr. Trump has additionally oscillated on whether or not the U.S. ought to safe the Strait of Hormuz.
After initially saying the U.S. Navy might escort vessels, he referred to as on different international locations to assist open the important thing water manner. With little curiosity from allies, Trump on Wednesday mused about merely leaving.
“I’m wondering what would occur if we ‘completed off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the International locations that use it, we don’t, be answerable for the so referred to as ‘Strait?,’” Mr. Trump posted on Fact Social.
Printed – March 19, 2026 05:52 am IST
