Trump Threatens Ground Invasion of Kharg Island to Open Strait

Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched on February 28, 2026, has escalated into a regional crisis characterized by massive airstrikes and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran, threatening to completely obliterate Iran's electric plants, oil wells, and desalination facilities if the waterway is not reopened by April 6. Central to this strategy is the potential seizure of Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iranian oil exports, to either disrupt revenue or gain economic control.

To provide maximum optionality, the U.S. has surged its regional presence to over 50,000 personnel, deploying the 31st and 11th Marine Expeditionary Units and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. Potential ground operations include amphibious assaults on Kharg Island, raids on the Hormuz littoral, or special operations to extract enriched uranium from sites in Isfahan and Natanz. While Trump claims the campaign has already achieved "regime change" following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian officials deny direct negotiations and dismiss U.S. peace proposals as "excessive, unrealistic and irrational.

Iran has responded by mobilizing up to one million volunteers through the "Janfada" campaign and launching retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia, as well as infrastructure in Kuwait and Israel. In Lebanon, Israel has expanded its ground invasion to create a security buffer against Hezbollah. Despite the volatility, Trump claims indirect talks facilitated by Pakistan are progressing, noted by Iran allowing a limited number of tankers to pass through the strait.