Exclusive: US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase

[babylonsister]

Exclusive: US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Erin Banco and Gram Slattery
March 18, 20267:47 PM EDTUpdated 19 mins ago

Summary

Trump considers deploying troops to Middle East
Options include securing Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island
Deployment of ground forces could anger parts of Trump's base

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against Iran, said a U.S. official ​and three people familiar with the matter.

The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third week.

Those options ‌include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, the sources said. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials.

more...

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-weighs-military-reinforcements-iran-war-enters-possible-new-phase-2026-03-18/

[Norrrm]

1. Jimmy Kimmel: "The only war Trump had an exit plan for was Vietnam."

[SamuelTheThird]

2. ', a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces'

If that worked, it would have already happened