Is the U.S. Headed for a Ground War in Iran?
CBS News reveals the Pentagon’s secretive contingency plans, including Marine deployments and special ops missions. As Natanz is struck and missiles fly toward Diego Garcia, the White House breaks its silence on "maximum optionality."
The U.S. military has drawn up detailed operational plans for a possible deployment of American ground forces inside Iran, multiple senior Pentagon sources told CBS News.
According to the report, high-level commanders have already submitted specific contingency proposals that include logistics for troop movements, procedures for detaining Iranian soldiers and Revolutionary Guard members, and positioning of forces in the region. Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and additional Marine units are reportedly being readied as part of these backup options.
President Donald Trump has been personally briefed on the plans and is actively discussing whether, and under what circumstances, he would authorize the use of ground troops on Iranian soil, the sources said. However, CBS emphasized that no final decision has been made and that the planning remains purely precautionary at this stage.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded quickly to the report, stating:
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision, and as the President said yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time.”
The revelations come amid a sharp escalation in the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Earlier on Friday, Iranian state media claimed that the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was struck in a joint American-Israeli attack.
Hours later, Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the strategic U.S.-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, one failed mid-flight and the second was intercepted by U.S. Navy ships. No damage or casualties were reported in either incident.The Pentagon’s contingency planning reflects growing concern in Washington that the conflict could expand beyond airstrikes and proxy operations.
Defense officials have described the ground-troop option as a “last resort” but one that must be fully prepared given Iran’s recent missile attempts and nuclear activities.
Israeli officials have not commented publicly on the CBS report, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has repeatedly said Israel will continue its operations until Iran’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programs are neutralized.