US nearing full-scale conflict with Iran, says Washington Post
The Washington Post reports the US is preparing for wider military escalation with Iran amid ongoing strikes and warnings over ground intervention.
Key Takeaways
AIA report by The Washington Post on Monday said the United States and Iran are moving closer to a large-scale military confrontation, as strikes continue and the number of American casualties rises following the resumption of fighting more than a week ago.
The newspaper quoted a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying that Washington is "preparing for a wider war," with the Department of Defense (Pentagon) increasing the deployment of military aircraft in the region in anticipation of further escalation.
The same source noted that stocks of long-range munitions and air defense systems are dwindling, and there are limits on sending additional troops and aircraft due to damage to military equipment. He warned that current capabilities "are not sufficient to continue operations safely," and cautioned that the White House "may not realize the scale of the issue."
Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said any deployment of US forces inside Iranian territory would expose them to Iranian missiles and drones. He stressed that stationing troops in fixed positions would make them easy targets, while flexibility and rapid operations offer greater protection.
Meanwhile, Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, warned that any ground intervention could trigger a major escalation, prompting Iran and its proxies to intensify missile and drone attacks, possibly lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and target US bases.
On Monday, the United States expanded its strikes on Iran, targeting several provinces across the Islamic Republic, including the city of Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear power plant.
In response, Tehran continued to target Gulf states and Jordan, claiming responsibility for attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced strikes on Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, naval assets, missile and drone launch platforms, and communications networks, stating that the attacks aim to "further degrade Iran's ability to target commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz."
The total number of US soldiers killed since the start of the conflict has risen to 17, with more than 420 others wounded.