The US is considering sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources. The military is preparing variants of the potential next phase of the war with Iran.

By sending additional forces to the region, Trump, who is considering expanding operations against Iran, would have additional options for action.

One of the options being considered is to ensure safe navigation of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. According to sources, this would be implemented mainly using air and naval forces. But securing the strait could also mean sending U.S. troops to Iran's coastline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials.

The administration is also discussing the possibility of sending ground forces to Khark Island, Iran's oil hub, the sources said. One of the interlocutors admitted that such an operation would be very risky. Iran may fire missiles and drones at the island.

On Friday, American forces bombed military targets on the island. Trump threatened that he might also attack the local oil infrastructure. However, according to experts, given the island's important role for the Iranian economy, controlling Khark would be seen as a better option than destroying it.

Reuters noted that the use of US ground forces, even as part of a limited mission, would pose a high political risk for Trump, given the low level of public support for the Iranian operation and the fact that during the election campaign he promised not to drag the country into another war in the Middle East.

The administration has also discussed the possibility of sending U.S. forces to seize Iran's enriched uranium resources, one of the sources said. According to experts, such a mission would be very complicated and risky.

The interlocutors do not believe that sending ground forces to Iran is inevitable. “There is no decision on sending ground forces at this time, but President Trump is prudently keeping all options open,” a White House official said.

Since February 28, American forces have attacked over 7,800. targets for Iranian targets.

The sources said that the additional American forces being discussed go beyond the grouping of warships and more than 2,000. marines scheduled to arrive in the Middle East next week.

One of the interlocutors pointed out that the army was losing a large number of forces due to the transfer of the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, to the port in Crete. The American vessel will dock temporarily in Greece due to a fire that broke out on board.

Reuters noted that Trump is wondering whether American forces should secure Hormuz at all. At first he announced that the American Navy would escort tankers through the strait, later he called on other countries to help unblock it.

But with little interest from allies on Wednesday, he suggested he might simply back out of it. “I wonder what would happen if we 'finished off' what was left of the Iranian terrorist state and allowed countries that use it (the strait), we don't, to take responsibility for the so-called strait?” – Trump wrote on Truth Social.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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