The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East as the Iran war escalates beyond airstrikes into potential ground operations — all without congressional authorization.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the proposed deployment on March 26-27, 2026. It would include infantry and armored vehicles from multiple combat units. A senior defense official said the decision was expected within a week. Meanwhile, the 82nd Airborne Division has already begun deploying from Fort Bragg — approximately 1,500-3,000 troops — with division commander Maj. Gen. Brandon R. Tegtmeier establishing forward command.
Four major ground operation options have been drawn up by the Pentagon: invading Kharg Island (which handles 90% of Iranian oil exports), blockading it, invading Larak Island to secure the Strait of Hormuz, or physically securing Iran's nuclear enrichment sites. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated bluntly: “We may need to physically secure nuclear material inside Iran. People are going to have to go and get it.”
Military analysts were blunt about the risks. Brandan Buck of the Cato Institute warned: “Any serious American invasion of Iran would likely rival or exceed the scale of Vietnam or the 1991 Gulf War, making it the largest US military undertaking since the Second World War.” Michael Eisenstadt of the Washington Institute called the 82nd Airborne deployment “too small to cause significant harm to Iran, but large enough to be vulnerable to Iranian strikes.” Iranian military officials reportedly “welcomed” the news as creating “options for them to impose costs.” One CNN analyst said the reinforcement had “a very low probability of success and very high probability of casualties.”
Congress has been sidelined entirely. Three separate war powers votes have failed — the Senate rejected the latest 47-53, and the House defeated its resolution 219-212. No existing Authorization for Use of Military Force covers this conflict. The administration claims inherent presidential authority and has reportedly avoided using the word “war” to dodge congressional accountability. Sen. Chris Murphy said the administration “cannot defend and explain this war.”
As of late March, 13-15 U.S. service members have been killed and over 200 wounded. Iran reports 1,937 killed and 24,800 injured. Trump told reporters: “I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground” and expected the conflict to last “4-5 weeks.” The White House simultaneously claimed Trump was “not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time” while Pentagon officials drew up ground invasion scenarios.