U.S. Special Operations Forces arrive in the Middle East — NYT
U.S. soldiers during military drills (Photo: First Team / Х)
Several hundred U.S. Special Operations Forces soldiers have arrived in the Middle East to provide President Donald Trump and other military officials with additional options in the war with Iran, The New York Times reported on March 29.
The newly arrived troops have not yet received specific assignments, the publication wrote, citing two unnamed American officials. They will join thousands of Marines and paratroopers who were sent to the region earlier.
Over 50,000 American military personnel are now in the Middle East in total as Trump decides his next steps in the war with Iran, the publication stressed.
Trump and State Secretary Marco Rubio earlier stated that deploying any additional troops will be aimed at giving the president extra options in the situation with Iran, journalists recalled.
Capturing Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil terminal, could be one of the goals of the newly arrived troops, according to the publication's sources. The American military may also look for ways to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, a mission to seize Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles at the Isfahan nuclear site will be another possible use for the Special Operations Forces.
Military experts warned that even 50,000 troops is a small number for a ground operation, the report noted.
Pentagon is preparing for ground operations in Iran, and if U.S. President Donald Trump approves the plans, this operation will become a new phase of the war, The Washington Post reported on March 29, citing sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump instructed Pentagon to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days on March 23.
"The U.S. and Iran held very good and productive talks on a complete and final settlement of hostilities in the Middle East over the past two days," he wrote on his Truth Social network.
The talks will continue this week, Trump added.
The United States and Iran are negotiating an end to the war, and there are "important points of convergence" between the parties, Trump later reiterated. He expects an agreement to be finalized very soon.
At least three Republicans in the U.S. Congress are hinting at the possible preparation of a ground operation in Iran, which could begin in the near future, The Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Ward reported on Mar. 26.
The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 American troops to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, the publication wrote on March 27, citing Defense Department officials.
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