US officials: There is no alternative to a ground operation to control Kharg Island
US officials: There is no alternative to a ground operation to control Kharg Island
2026-03-23
Shafaq News – Middle East
Senior U.S. officials have informed their counterparts in Israel and other countries in recent days that there may be no alternative in a war with Iran other than launching a ground military operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
A US official confirmed to the newspaper that the US military had accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East, in preparation for the possible execution of the operation.
This deployment includes the USS Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group, which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) operating as a light aircraft carrier, along with the amphibious transport ships USS Portland and USS Comstock.
These ships carry approximately 4,500 marines, in addition to other combat elements.
The United States had previously targeted sites on Kharg Island about a week and a half ago, with US President Donald Trump later saying that the military targets on the island had been destroyed, while leaving the oil infrastructure undamaged, warning that the situation would be reconsidered if Iran disrupted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, Iran’s defiant response to US warnings makes it unlikely that the naval blockade will end voluntarily, leading to assessments that a military operation may be required to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait.
Yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent said that “all options are on the table,” including sending US forces to secure Iran’s Kharg Island, stressing that “escalation may be necessary to de-escalate” the war with Iran.
Trump had warned, in a post on the Truth Social platform, saying: “If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz, without threat, within 48 hours from this moment, the United States of America will strike and destroy their various power stations, starting with the largest first!”
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