The United States ruling class is considering sending airborne troops into the war in Iran. A brigade of about 3,000 paratroopers could soon be joining the conflict in the Middle East.
The U.S. has struck several military targets on Kharg Island, which sits around 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf, in mid-March. So far, the U.S. has refrained from hitting the energy infrastructure. Reports have been circulating since then, claiming that Washington could launch a ground operation to take control of the key oil hub in an attempt to cripple Tehran’s economy after three weeks from the start of the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic, accoridng to a report by The New York Times.
Kharg Island is responsible for 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
Iran has been warning that it would set oil and gas facilities in the Gulf nations “on fire” if the move against Kharg Island is made. On Monday, it also threatened to retaliate by mining the Strait of Hormuz and all other waterways in the region.
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The plan under consideration at the Pentagon is to send some 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne’s “Immediate Response Force,” said to be capable of deploying anywhere around the globe within 18 hours, to carry out the attack on the island, the New York Times said in an article published on Monday.
Another option being discussed is using 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is already on its way to the Middle East, for the operation, it added.
Accoridng to a report by RT, there is also a scenario where the paratroopers could augment the Marines, current and former officials told the paper. Despite being able to arrive swiftly, the airborne troops lack heavy equipment, possessed by the marines, that would be needed to repel possible Iranian efforts to take Kharg Island back, they explained.
This will do little more than expand the already explosive war in the Middle East. Iran is not going to take too well to paratroopers attempting to destroy its energy infrastructure.