U.S. elite military units have departed bases amid escalating tensions, signaling potential preparations for a land attack on Iran, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz.
Countdown to Attack on Iran: Elite Troops Leave Bases
A land attack on Iran is no longer a fiction, with preparations appearing to be in their final stages. The U.S. has deployed three elite units to the Strait of Hormuz region.
According to General Roman Polko, if the U.S. attacks, it will face significant challenges and could encounter considerable difficulties.
U.S. Response to Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The United States appears determined to respond forcefully to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While Donald Trump rescinded a 72-hour ultimatum, the U.S. does not intend to passively await a response from Iran.
Imminent Land Attack: Three Elite Units En Route
Three elite U.S. military units are being moved to the conflict region. The first, according to The Wall Street Journal, is the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, permanently stationed in Japan. Approximately 2,200 soldiers have embarked on the USS Tripoli and USS New Orleans.
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from California, along with the USS Boxer and accompanying warships, will provide support.
Military Hardware and Training
The amphibious ships carry approximately 5,000 soldiers and a substantial fleet of strike aircraft, including F-35B vertical landing fighters and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors. The Boxer-11 team completed integrated training in February, simulating passage through the strait and defense of the strike group.
Marines will be reinforced by soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, which was previously stationed near the airport in Jasionka, southern Poland.
General Polko: First to Engage
In addition to the three elite units, observers have noted the arrival of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force, SEAL Team 6, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment on the Middle East. The latter gained notoriety in January for its operation in Venezuela and the alleged abduction of President Maduro.
“These are the forces that always enter into action first. If there are tasks with the highest level of risk, these elite units are engaged. This type of concentration indicates that a limited land action is being considered. We are well aware that it is impossible to unblock the Strait of Hormuz without action on land,” said General Roman Polko, former commander of GROM, to DGP.
Preparation Challenges and Historical Precedents
Although a land intervention seems necessary to unblock the strait, General Polko believes it cannot be prepared in a few days, suggesting conceptual work must have begun long ago. Historical military operations demonstrate that success is not always guaranteed.
“Even for Iraq, the Americans were not particularly prepared. And this is not my opinion, but I spoke on this topic with General Ricardo Sanchez, and he told me about the pressure to accelerate certain actions. In the army, the process of generating forces cannot always be accelerated to achieve full readiness,” the general stated.
Risky War: Troops Under Fire
Most analysts believe the U.S. attack’s target could be Khark Island, home to most of Iran’s oil transport facilities. However, capturing it would not solve the problem of unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, requiring the occupation of Keshm Island and potentially a landing on the Iranian coast.
“I do not particularly imagine such an operation. Of course, you can go ashore and achieve goals on a limited scale, or even capture the island, but you will constantly be under fire. And as the Iranians say, the Americans are looking for quick solutions, and they themselves can wage such a war for 10 years. And that is the biggest problem,” said General Polko.
Potential Timeline and Elite Unit Arrival
U.S. officials have not specified when an attack might occur, or if it will happen at all. However, based on previous military actions by the Trump administration (the attack on Venezuela and the air strike on Iran), the night of Friday to Saturday, after U.S. markets close, appears most likely.
This timing coincides with the arrival of all three elite strike units in the area.
