Claims that officials at the US Department of Defense have been evaluating the deployment of an approximately 3,000-strong airborne combat unit as part of potential operations against Iran have further heightened tensions in the region. According to a report by The New York Times, citing unnamed defense officials, senior US military figures have been considering scenarios in which ground forces could also play a role in a wider campaign targeting Iranian positions. Although these discussions are said to remain within the framework of contingency planning, the report suggests that military options continue to be reviewed carefully behind the scenes.

One of the most striking elements of the report is the claim that this force could be used in a possible operation against Iran’s Hark Island, a strategic location that serves as a critical hub for the country’s oil exports. The reported combat unit, said to belong to the 82nd Airborne Division, could allegedly be tasked with seizing the island if such an operation were approved. Given Hark Island’s importance to Iran’s energy infrastructure, any military action directed at the island would likely have consequences extending well beyond the battlefield, potentially affecting global energy markets and regional maritime security.

The report also states that if US President Donald Trump were to authorize an assault aimed at capturing the island, another option under consideration would involve roughly 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is reportedly moving toward the region. This possibility indicates that Washington may be evaluating a broader range of military scenarios beyond airstrikes alone. However, neither the Pentagon nor US Central Command has issued an official confirmation regarding these claims, leaving the report within the realm of unnamed-source reporting and strategic speculation.

The broader regional picture remains highly volatile. Following the US-Israeli strikes launched against Iran on February 28, the conflict expanded as Iran retaliated by targeting not only Israel but also selected locations in regional countries hosting US military bases, particularly Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. According to Iranian officials, the death toll from the US-Israeli strikes has exceeded 1,348, while the number of injured has surpassed 17,000. Against this backdrop, the allegation that the Pentagon considered using airborne troops in a possible operation against Hark Island stands out as one of the most consequential developments, with the potential to reshape both military calculations and geopolitical dynamics across the Middle East.