US Weighs Deployment Of Elite Airborne Troops As Hawks Push Kharg Island Takeover

A steady flow of headlines continue to point in the direction of escalation in Iran and around the Persian Gulf, even as President Trump has touted backchannel dialogue with Tehran, which Iranian leaders have denied. The NY Times writes Monday afternoon, “Senior military officials are weighing a possible deployment of a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and some elements of the division’s headquarters staff to support U.S. military operations in Iran, defense officials said.” A combat brigade would suggest some 3,000 additional elite soldiers, as the thousands of Marines currently still en route from Japan as well as from San Diego. The first group of Marines is reportedly expected to arrive to the Mideast region Friday, which would coincide with President Trump’s announced five day pause on energy infrastructure strikes. US officials speaking to the Times have made clear that the Airborne planning is just that – a preparatory phase which has not formally been ordered by the Pentagon or CENTCOM. All of this comes amid speculation that Trump could order some kind of assault and takeover of Kharg Island: Another possibility being considered, should President Trump authorize U.S. troops to seize the island, is an attack by about 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary […]

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