What happened Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has vowed that it will “set the souls of American soldiers on fire” as US marines arrive in the Middle East ahead of potential ground operations in the war. The deployment of a marine expeditionary unit supported by aircraft and naval assets, alongside additional troops that are reportedly en route, add to a substantial existing presence across Persian Gulf bases, although still short of the numbers typically required for a full invasion.
Who said what Both sides are “gearing up for a ground confrontation”, said Richard Spencer in The Times. However, the force of about 40,000 to 50,000 troops is “nowhere near sufficient strength to launch a full-scale invasion of Iran”. The initial conquest of Iraq, a much smaller country, in 2003, for example, “took a force 150,000-strong”. Therefore the US military planning appears to be focused on limited objectives, such as securing key waterways and strategic islands, rather than a sweeping occupation.
Ghalibaf cautioned that US overtures towards diplomacy could mask military intent: “On the surface the enemy sends messages about negotiation and dialogue, but in secret it is drawing up plans for a ground attack.” If they do attack, Iran’s forces are “waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can rain fire upon them”, he added.
What next? Elsewhere, the war has now drawn in the separatist Houthi rebels in Yemen, “as was widely feared”, said The Independent’s editorial board. The “long-term associates of Tehran” have started launching drones and long-range missiles into Israel. With just days remaining before Trump’s latest deadline, both sides appear to be bracing for an escalation in the fighting if negotiations collapse.
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