US Military's "Weeks-Long" Iran Ground Operation Plan Revealed, Aims to Replicate "42-Day Victory" Myth

On March 29th, news of the US military preparing for ground operations in Iran sent shockwaves globally. Unlike the full-scale invasion of the 2003 Iraq War, the Pentagon is now deploying a “scalpel decapitation” tactic – no territorial occupation, no prolonged warfare, directly targeting Iran’s oil lifeline, Kharg Island, in an attempt to replicate the glory of the 1991 Gulf War with a “victory in weeks.” The Washington Post reported on the 28th that the Pentagon is preparing for a limited ground operation lasting several weeks, rather than a full occupation-style invasion. Thousands of Marines and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division have already deployed to the Middle East. Among them, approximately 3,500 personnel from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, heading directly to the core waters of the Persian Gulf. The Wall Street Journal disclosed on the 26th that the US military is considering deploying up to an additional 10,000 ground combat troops, including infantry and armored forces. This total troop size would be only one percent of that deployed in the Iraq War, completely abandoning the operational model of a million-strong army pressing in. The Pentagon’s strategic intent is very clear: abandon costly and uncontrollable full occupation, and instead focus on an “economic strangulation war.” Its core tactical objective directly targets Iran’s southwestern oil-producing regions and the strategic chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and further locks onto Kharg Island, the core hub of Iran’s crude oil exports. This island bears over 90% of Iran’s crude oil export tasks, making it the lifeline of Iran’s economy. Multiple international media outlets and think tanks have repeatedly warned: clinging to the “42-day victory over Iran” myth may lead the United States into a new strategic quagmire. (Guo Shi Zhi Tong Che)