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Senior American officials have informed counterparts in Israel and other countries that the United States may have no alternative but to launch a ground operation to take control of the Iranian island of Kharg, The Jerusalem Post reports, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf, is a major hub for Iran's oil exports, with about 90 percent of it going to China. According to reports, discussions have begun within the US administration about whether occupying the island could force Tehran to stop blocking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
A US official confirmed to the newspaper that the US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and naval personnel to the Middle East.
The deployment includes the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group, which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer—which functions as a light aircraft carrier—as well as the USS Portland and USS Comstock. These vessels reportedly carry about 4,500 Marines and other combat personnel.
About a week and a half ago, the US struck military targets on Kharg Island. US President Donald Trump declared on social media that “all military targets on the island have been destroyed,” adding that he had not ordered the complete destruction of the energy infrastructure, but warned that he may reconsider this decision if Iran continues to obstruct movement in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Trump declared on Saturday that, if the blockade is not lifted, the US may also strike Iranian power plants.
According to estimates cited by The Jerusalem Post, given Iran's defiant stance towards these warnings, it remains unlikely that Tehran will voluntarily withdraw from the blockade. In this context, a military operation is seen as a possible scenario to guarantee freedom of navigation in the strait.
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