US forces in Iraq. Photo courtesy of the Nevada Office of Veterans Affairs.
President Trump is reportedly weighing the deployment of ground troops to Iran along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz or Kharg Island, as the war in Iran approaches the end of its third week.
This comes as Lindsey Graham demands that President Trump escalate the war further on Kharg Island.
During a Fox News appearance on Tuesday, Graham cried, “90% of their income comes from oil and gas revenue. 100% of that revenue-generating capability is on a single island. Mr. President, take Kharg Island; this war is over.”
WATCH:
Trump has publicly suggested an escalation and expansion of operations against Iran.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Trump threatened to “finish off” Iran on Wednesday in response to allies’ refusal to assist with the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Threatens to “Finish Off” Iran and Let Asia and NATO “Be Responsible” for the Strait of Hormuz
Trump later announced on Wednesday night that Israel had “violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran,” launching an attack without US knowledge.
Last Friday, Trump announced the “most powerful bombing raids” in the history of the Middle East on Iran’s critical oil hub of Kharg Island in response to Iran’s threats and targeting of ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Citing four sources, Reuters reports that thousands of ground troops could be deployed to secure the Strait of Hormuz, take over Iran’s oil-exporting capabilities on Kharg Island, or to contain Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile. However, a ground invasion is likely not imminent.
“There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal,” one Trump Administration official said.
“The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”
More from Reuters:
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.
Reuters granted the sources anonymity to speak about military planning.
The Trump administration has also discussed options to send ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports, the three people familiar with the matter and three U.S. officials said. One of the officials said such an operation would be very risky. Iran has the ability to reach the island with missiles and drones.
The United States carried out strikes against military targets on the island on March 13 and Trump has threatened to also strike its critical oil infrastructure. However, given its vital role in Iran’s economy, controlling the island would likely be viewed as a better option than destroying it, military experts say.
This is a developing story.
The post REPORT: Trump Considering Deployment of THOUSANDS of Ground Troops Along Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island as RINO Warpig Lindsey Graham Demands He “Take Kharg Island” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.